Old Trafford cup exit as Middlesbrough beat United on penalties

Manchester United, one of the biggest favourites for the Capital One Cup, were knocked out in the last 16 after a shock 1-3 penalty defeat to Middlesbrough at Old Trafford. Neither side scored in normal time, with the visitors the more enterprising team. A Daley Blind own goal was ruled out because Kike was offside, and a Jesse Lingard shot hit the post. Both teams missed chances in extra time, and when the game went to penalties, the most experienced players in Louis van Gaal’s side, Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick and Ashley Young, all missed as Middlesbrough won the shoot-out 3-1.

The visitors, backed by 10,000 travelling supporters at Old Trafford, surprisingly missed the first clear chance of the match in the 16th minute. United’s defence failed to clear a corner, the ball came back into the box, and Emilio Nsúe’s attempted overhead kick found George Friend, who missed from close range.

United created their first clear scoring chance after 41 minutes. Fellaini controlled the ball well and shot with his right foot from inside the box, but Friend blocked at the decisive moment. Straight afterwards, Romero had to rescue his team for the second time, punching away a fine Stewart Downing shot.

Early in the second half, Depay tried his luck from long range and Middlesbrough goalkeeper Mejías briefly spilled the ball before gathering it short of the line. Five minutes later the ball was in Romero’s net: Kike’s shot came back off the post and Blind turned it in comically, but the goal was disallowed for offside. In the 66th minute United’s defence produced another farcical moment when Blind passed back to Romero, who miscontrolled the ball, and only luck preserved the clean sheet.

Both teams missed several chances in the closing minutes. Lingard’s shot hit the post, then Leadbitter and Downing created two great opportunities for Middlesbrough, but Romero was in the right place to save his side.

In the last minute of extra time, Martial and Fellaini both had excellent chances to score against Boro, but their headers went narrowly wide. The match went to a shoot-out.

Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick and Ashley Young missed for the hosts. The only United player to score from the spot was youngster Andreas Pereira. For Middlesbrough, Leadbitter, Downing and Gibson were all on target. Only David Nugent missed, but that did not cost the visitors, who went through to a quarter-final against Everton.

Manchester United: Romero; Darmian, Smalling, Blind, Rojo (61′ – Young); Carrick, Fellaini, Pereira, Lingard, Wilson (46′ – Rooney); Depay (71′ – Martial).

Middlesbrough: Mejias; Kalas, Ayala, Gibson, Stephens (114′ – Clayton); Friend, Downing, Leadbitter, Nsue, De Pena (79′ – Zuculini); Kike (84′ – Nugent).

What happened next in the Capital One Cup

The shoot-out at Old Trafford was played on 28 October 2015, and Middlesbrough goalkeeper Tomás Mejías was the hero of a shoot-out in which Ben Gibson converted the decisive penalty. Aitor Karanka’s side could not repeat the trick in the quarter-final. On 1 December 2015 Everton won 2-0 at the Riverside Stadium, with Gerard Deulofeu scoring after 20 minutes and setting up Romelu Lukaku eight minutes later. The result took Everton into the League Cup semi-finals for the first time since 2008.

The competition was eventually won by Manchester City, who beat Liverpool 3-1 on penalties at Wembley on 28 February 2016 after a 1-1 draw. Fernandinho scored for City and Philippe Coutinho equalised, before goalkeeper Willy Caballero saved three of Liverpool’s spot kicks.

How the season ended for both clubs

Middlesbrough’s campaign ended with promotion. On 8 May 2016 Boro drew 1-1 with Brighton at the Riverside on the final day of the Championship season, Cristhian Stuani scoring in the 19th minute. Both clubs finished on 89 points, but Middlesbrough’s better goal difference took them up in second place behind champions Burnley and ended a seven-year absence from the Premier League.

Manchester United finished fifth in the Premier League and missed out on Champions League qualification, but they did win a trophy. On 21 May 2016 they beat Crystal Palace 2-1 after extra time in the FA Cup final at Wembley, with goals from Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard, for the club’s 12th FA Cup. It was Louis van Gaal’s only trophy as United manager, and the club dismissed him two days later.