Article
Ronaldo keeps United´s FA Cup treble dreams alive
MIDDLESBROUGH, England (AFP) - Cristiano Ronaldo kept Manchester United in the FA Cup with a second half penalty that earned a 2-2 draw in the quarter-final at Middlesbrough on Saturday.
Premiership leaders United, who are also in the last eight of the Champions League, went ahead through a first half strike by Wayne Rooney before Lee Cattermole equalised on the stroke of half-time.
George Boateng headed the home team in front within a minute of the restart, but the Dutch midfielder was penalised for handball 22 minutes from time and Ronaldo converted from the spot to set up a replay at Old Trafford later this month.
Boateng was furious with Rob Styles' penalty decision and said: "I'm devastated. I thought we deserved to be win and I really feel the referee has robbed us.
"When a shot is coming in you try to protect your face. If you look at the tape you will see I didn't deliberately handball it."
Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate backed Boateng and added: "He is a yard away when it is flicked, so I'm not sure what he can do to adjust his position. You tend to get those given against you against the bigger sides."
United boss Alex Ferguson added: "We dominated the first half and had a lot of chances. It was one of our best performances for quite a while in the first half.
"We gave away a bad goal after half-time but we never gave in as Manchester United teams are supposed to do. We kept going and got what we deserved."
United were forced into an unexpected change prior to kick-off when experienced Netherlands goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar suffered a calf injury in the pre-match warm-up.
Pole Tomasz Kuszczak replaced Holland's most capped player in an otherwise full-strength team but, without a third senior goalkeeper in the squad, Alex Ferguson was forced to name five outfield substitutes.
Middlesbrough went into a third FA Cup quarter-final in six seasons seeking to stretch their unbeaten home record in the competition to 10 years.
Arsenal were the last team to win a tie on Teesside, when the Gunners completed a 2-1 fourth round victory in 1998, and Gareth Southgate's players, backed by a capacity crowd, faced their Manchester rivals in fine form following a run of just one defeat in 14 league and cup matches since the turn of the year.
Kuszczak had been afforded only eight minutes to get his bearings in front of the massed ranks of United supporters when Middlesbrough's England international Stewart Downing forced the former West Bromwich Albion player into a fine save.
But van der Sar's understudy inspired a typically fluid United move and a succession of rapid passes culminated in Rooney striking a firm volley two feet wide of goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer's right hand post.
The England international's radar was, however, perfect in the 23rd minute after Middlesbrough's left back Andrew Taylor conceded possession inside his own half.
Giggs claimed the loose ball and played a short pass to his left, where United's number eight was lying in wait. Rooney stepped inside two defenders before drilling a right footed shot beyond Schwarzer from the edge of the area.
Nine minutes before the break Giggs struck the post from a Gary Neville pass but Cattermole brought the clash to life when he levelled for the home team in the 45th minute.
Middlesbrough were in the ascendancy and the 1997 finalists took the lead within a minute of the restart when Boateng headed his first FA Cup goal for eight years.
However, the Netherlands international went from hero to villain in the 67th minute when referee Rob Styles spotted his penalty area indiscretion.
Giggs floated in a corner from the right and, with England defender Rio Ferdinand in his line of vision, both of Boateng's hands made contact with the ball.
Ronaldo comfortably converted from the spot for his 17th goal of the season but both teams had chances to seal a semi-final place during a thrilling conclusion to a memorable match.
Comments (0)