Manchester United crash out following a penalty shootout defeat
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| Phil Bardsley and Marcos Alonso rejoice |
The fateful night of the 22nd of January saw an extra ordinary game being played under the lights of Old Trafford in Manchester.Sunderland,who were determined to hold onto their 2-1 lead from the 1st Leg,just never stopped applying pressure on the United defense which was performing well,until they conceded the last ditch equalizer.
Manchester United succeeded in breaking the dead-lock in the 37th minute through a clear Jonny Evans,who was being played onside by Italian striker Fabio Borini.The corner was drilled in by Adnan Januzaj from the left when Javier Hernandez put Jonny Evans clean through on goal.After the lone goal chances were few and far for both sides as United searched for a goal which guaranteed a safe passage to Wembley,while Sunderland looked for a goal which could've brought them on level terms.
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| Jonny Evans heads in the opener |
Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans made some crucial interventions in the game and these vital performances meant that the game would head into extra -time.The tension and gloom around Old Trafford already suggested that something extra-ordinary was in store for the on-lookers and watchers.The first half of extra-time passed without any significant issues except for injuries suffered by Fabio Borini and United's Michael Carrick.The looks on the faces of the players told you the whole story and by then,it seemed as if only luck or misfortune could've determined the winner.If Sunderland had got the equalizer,they would've booked their spot in the Final and if United could've held on they would've been singing the songs of glory.But the talking pointscame very late in extra-time when a shot across the bowels by Phil Bardsley was fluffed by David de Gea,who was left disappointed and dejected on conceding the believed decisive goal.
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| David de Gea looks dejected after conceding the equalizer |
But,just when the Black Cats thought that they'd nabbed a winner,they were caught napping by a very very late tap in by Javier Hernandez,who met an Adnan Januzaj cross perfectly .But,the 18 year old's selfishness was highlighted in this game as he was seen ,firing unnecessary shots towards Vito Mannone's goal post.The extra-ordinary game had not yet concluded as the nervy faces of the fans and the players clearly indicated that the penalty shoot outs were the best option to sought this one out.
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| United came back to scoring late through Chicharito |
Gus Poyet and David Moyes were busy,charting out the penalty takers chart while the players were patting their keepers to encourage them more.The moment of truth was to arrive in a moment when Sunderland's Craig Gardener ,who had come off the bench ,stepped up to take the first spot kick.But,the United fans were highly relieved to watch the ball disappear into the orbit somewhere.The onus of converting United's first penalty fell to Danny Welbeck as specialist Javier Hernandez had fell to a muscle cramp.The Englishman was left to stare the ball as it was deposited into the stands as the score read 0-0.Steven Fletcher was next up for the visitors but David de Gea's desperateness to sought redemption paid off when he saved the Scot's spot kick which was to be placed into the bottom corner.The other Fletcher-Darren scored to give United the lead in the dreaded penalty shoot out.But,Sunderland left Marcos Alonso levelled things up with a cool penalty.Now,it was the 18 year old Januzaj 's turn to show his ability under stifling pressure but the Belgian scuppered his spot kick,which fell straight into the arms of Vito Mannone.The most dependable of the candidates Ki-Sung Yueng showed his composure after successfully converting his chance to give Sunderland the lead.Up stepped another youngster in Phil Jones,but he skied his spot-kick big time as the ball sailed into the stands.
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| United missed 4 of their 5 spot kicks,which is demoralizing |
The gloom and expressions of fright on the faces of the United players and fans conveyed the story of the penalty shoot outs as,Mr.Sunderland-Adam Johnson stepped up to possibly win the game for his side.The man in purple patch was denied by a trademark acrobatic save by the Spaniard stopper ,who certainly made up for his howler.
If Rafael missed,Sunderland would've won the game of tensions and heart-attacks and rightly so,the young Brazilian's shot was saved by a diving Vito Mannone,who was seen rejoicing along with the Sunderland side in front of their 9,000 fans present there at the Theatre of Dreams.
Although,the game went Sunderland's way but it was a game to be remembered forever for both sets of fans,who were guaranteed an enthralling enounter.Now,Sunderland will play Manchester City at Wembley in the final of the League Cup on the 2nd of March
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