51
22:10
Crooks puts his keeper in trouble with a back pass that is too short, but Lumley ignites the turbo and is just in time to clear before Ronaldo.
50
22:09
Manchester United are lurking for a counterattack, but the second division is still far from an all-in and continues to play very tentatively, so that relatively little is happening at the moment.
47
22:06
Isaiah Jones has plenty of space on the right wing and plays a dangerous low pass towards the back post, but the United defense is able to clear it again.
46
22:04
Both teams return to the pitch unchanged. The second 45 minutes run.
46
22:04
Kick-off 2nd half
45
21:49
Mid-term conclusion:
Manchester United led 1-0 at half-time against Middlesbrough and have impressively lived up to their role as favourites. A defensive error by the guests could have rang the bell in the second minute of the game, before the Red Devils finally picked up the pace after 15 minutes. After Cristiano Ronaldo fired a penalty to the left of the goal, Sancho gave his team the lead five minutes later. Afterwards there was still one or the other chance to refill. Most recently, however, the English record champions took some pressure off the game and let Boro come. Because the guests had no offensive ideas and always left their defensive protection behind, it never became dangerous in front of the United goal.
45
21:47
Official stoppage time (minutes): 1
43
21:45
Ralf Rangnick’s side let themselves fall back a little and lured Middlesbrough in order to be able to switch quickly after winning the ball. The guests leave the cover up and continue to play half-heartedly forward.
40
21:43
Another corner kick for United and this time Shaw cuts Fernandes in, who lets Rashford through behind him. From 18 meters he just takes a shot, but the shot is only deflected to the next corner. After a short variation, it’s Rashford again, who shoots from the back, but this time shoots too centrally at Lumley, who holds the ball securely.
39
21:41
Sancho pulls out a corner that Shaw serves sharply to the back post. However, Fry has the upper hand in a header duel and can head the leather out of the danger zone.
37
21:39
The North Yorkshire club are now getting a little more space but have few ideas going forward. Andraž Šporar starts on the right wing and crosses into the Red Devils’ unoccupied penalty area, who have little trouble clearing it.
34
21:36
Middlesbrough comes to the first conclusion of the game, which is not really worth mentioning. Arsenal loanee Folarin Balogun just tries it from a distance after a solo run, but puts the ball well past the goal of previously unemployed Dean Henderson from 18 meters. Goal kick United.
33
21:35
Boro comes to a relief attack, which is stopped early and results in a counterattack by the Red Devils. Again the ball lands on the hitherto completely unlucky Ronaldo, who shoots Lumley from 13 meters with another imprecise shot.
30
21:32
Now the ball wriggles in the guest goal again, but it’s offside. The way Rashford sinks the Fernandes pass from 18 meters into the guest goal is still impressive.
29
21:32
Bruno Fernandes sends Cristiano Ronaldo down the left, who then unleashes a mixture of a shot on target and a cross. The ball clearly misses the long corner, but is also too sharp for Marcus Rashford, who ran along.
27
21:30
United almost followed suit. Again, a high ball from the center is the recipe for success. This time the leather lands on Rashford, who immediately drips for Ronaldo. However, this final pass is a bit too sharp. Lumley is on the ball in front of CR7 and safely buries the play equipment under himself.
25
21:27
Tooor for Manchester United, 1-0 through Jadon Sancho
Now the Red Devils score the overdue goal to make it 1-0. Bruno Fernandes plays a strong pass to Jadon Sancho, who holds his own against Matt Crooks and Isaiah Jones and takes a precise shot from the inside left to the far post. The strong conclusion also hits in the lower right corner. Nothing to do for Joe Lumley.
23
21:26
Bruno Fernandes is completely empty after an extremely strong chip from Diogo Dalot in the opposing sixteen. Neil Taylor is ruled offside and the Portuguese has all the time in the world from eleven yards. But instead of taking the ball calmly, he pulls it straight from the turn and chases the ball over the crossbar. Kick off Middlesbrough.
20
21:22
Penalty missed by Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United
Cristiano Ronaldo takes responsibility. After a short run-up, he chases the actually strong penalty to the cheers of the visiting fans but then wafer-thinly wide of the post to the left.
19
21:21
Penalty for Manchester United! McTominay serves Pogba in the opponent’s box and Dijksteel clumsily kicks the Red Devils player from behind. The referee immediately points to the point.
17
21:20
Manchester United has not yet come to the really compelling scenes against the tightly defending guests. Even with a Shaw corner from the left, Maguire can’t create a decisive amount of space on the second post to bring about a controlled finish. His header clearly misses to the right.
15
21:17
After winning the ball in the middle, Middlesbrough can counter via Isaiah Jones. However, returnee Paul Pogba is close and puts a stop to the advance with a risky but ultimately perfectly timed tackle.
12
21:14
Cristiano Ronaldo works his way into the opponent’s penalty area after a one-two with Diogo Dalot, but then wants to make it too demanding. From 15 meters he puts the ball up himself and then unpacks a lob with his pike, which, however, does not pose any problems for guest keeper Joe Lumley. The 26-year-old can certainly catch the ball.
9
21:11
Boro tries a free kick. Howson circles the ball sharply in the sixteen in the direction of Crooks, who not only does not even get the ball, but is also offside. The defensive guests from North Yorkshire have not yet played offensively.
6
21:09
Via Fernandes and Sancho, the ball lands on the left side of the baseline at McTominay, who hits a strong cross with his left outside instep in the sixteen. Ronaldo artistically fuels himself up to the overhead kick, but does not get enough precision in the attempt from ten meters. Lumley can safely pluck the ball out of the air.
4
21:06
Diogo Dalot breaks through on the right and tries to send Marcus Rashford into the box with a wonderful pass down. However, Joe Lumley is on the post, comes out in time and is able to secure the ball in front of the Red Devils attacker.
2
21:05
Late for United! The hosts start straight away like the fire brigade and almost benefit from a coordination error in the Boro defensive. Fry and Lumley interfered with each other’s clearance and the ball landed with Sancho, who lobbed the ball over the keeper from 19 meters on goal. Ultimately, the bar saves the second division.
1
21:02
The ball rolls at Old Trafford. The hosts will wear their usual red shirts over white shorts. The guests, meanwhile, play all in jade green. Here we go.
20:32
As early as January 1894, the two teams met for the first time in the FA Cup, which the Red Devils clearly won 4-0. In all, Manchester United and Middlesbrough FC have met today for the 127th time. The English record champions clearly lead the direct comparison with 64 wins (28 draws, 34 defeats). The last competitive games came in Boro’s last Premier League year, when United won both the first leg (2-1) and the second leg (3-1) in 2016/17. Today’s second division side celebrated their last away win at Old Trafford in February 2004 (3:2).
20:24
Chris Wilder’s side have won five of their last six league games and also celebrated a successful dress rehearsal last Saturday in a 1-0 home win over Coventry City. So there is not much reason for a change. Only Folarin Balogun, who was loaned out from Arsenal in the winter, is allowed to replace Aaron Connolly (bank) from the start today.
20:18
Middlesbrough FC, who once reached the 2006 UEFA Cup final, have suffered quite a decline in recent years. Boro has only spent one season in the Premier League since being relegated in the summer of 2009 (2016/17). The MFC is currently playing in the championship for the fifth year in a row, from which 2020 even came close to relegation. In the end, the 2004 EFL Cup winners were just 17th in the final table in England’s second-tier league. The North Yorkshire club are currently seventh there.
20:12
Manchester United recently celebrated a 1-0 home win over West Ham United. Ralf Rangnick has rotated five positions compared to this game. However, this brings plenty of star power onto the field, which underlines how seriously the Red Devils take this home game against a second division team. In goal, Henderson is preferred to De Gea (not in the squad). In addition, Shaw, Sancho, Pogba and Rashford start for Fred, Elanga (both bench), Alex Telles and Greenwood (neither in the squad).
20:06
The Red Devils have already won the prestigious English Cup twelve times. They last secured the FA Cup in the summer of 2016. In the current season, the current fourth in the Premier League had to eliminate another first division club, Aston Villa, in order to reach the fourth round. A victory that, however, also released strength. In the three league games that followed, Ralf Rangnick’s team remained undefeated and scored seven out of a possible nine points with a goal scored 6-3
20:00
Good evening and welcome from Old Trafford. Here Manchester United host Middlesbrough FC in the 4th Round of the FA Cup today at 21:00.