For the third time this season, Cristiano Ronaldo was involved in a penalty row against Middlesbrough as Manchester United booked an FA Cup semi-final meeting with Watford and kept alive their Treble dream.
Manchester United 1 Middlesbrough 0
Branded a cheat by Gareth Southgate for what the Boro boss felt was clear dive at the Riverside earlier this season, Ronaldo subsequently rammed home the penalty which earned United their quarter-final replay nine days ago after George Boateng had handled at close range inside his own box.
And this morning, in a tie that seemed to be heading inexorably for extra-time, Ronaldo was the man sent flying again as Jonathan Woodgate made his only mistake of the night.
The pair were flying for the dead ball line at top speed with 15 minutes of the contest remaining. But, even though Woodgate wisely opted not to attempt a tackle, he caught Ronaldo's trailing leg as he fell, leaving referee Mike Dean little alternative than to point to the spot.
Once the visitors' arguments subsided, Ronaldo strode up to break Boro's resistance by sending Mark Schwarzer the wrong way, taking United into the last four and one step closer a dream Wembley showdown with title rivals Chelsea on May 19.
Ronaldo ran past the Boro bench and made a sign of a TV with his fingers in what could have been an invitation for Southgate and his staff to look at the TV replays.
At the end of the game stewards moved quickly as words were exchanged by members of both backroom staff from both teams.
Having come through three replays and two penalty shoot-outs to reach this point, Boro had already shown a tenacity that proved they would not be easily dismissed from the competition.
And little that occurred in the opening period suggested their stickability had lost any of its adhesive quality on the trip down from Teesside.
Unusually for any side meeting one of the 'big four', Boro were actually that little bit fresher than their injury-hit opponents.
It might not have gone down well with Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock in particular but Southgate's decision to leave Woodgate, Mark Viduka and Julio Arca out of the team that lost against Manchester City on Saturday was vindicated by a battling first-half performance.
The visitors carved out at least as many half chances as their hosts, with Viduka going close with a snap-shot that Tomasz Kuszczak could have done nothing about had it been an inch the other side of his right-hand post.
Ronaldo was equally unfortunate to see an early shot curl just wide and if anyone was going to light up the game, it was the Portugal winger.
His previous against Boro ensured he was booed by the travelling fans every time he got the ball. Not that the reaction put him off and one brilliant piece of skill took him past Matthew Taylor and Emanuel Pogatetz, only for Woodgate to slide in and prevent former Leeds team-mate Alan Smith bundling home.
Bereft of clear opportunities, the contest seemed destined to see its opening goal three minutes before the break when Ryan Giggs set Wayne Rooney free with a superb slide-rule pass.
In a similar position against Bolton on Saturday, the England man calmly chipped home. Here, he attempted to round Schwarzer and the Australian simply stuck out an arm and took the ball away from him.
The second period was as closely contested as the first, with Woodgate catching the eye, more through his ability to read United's intentions than anything else.
Each time the Red Devils threatened, it seemed the Real Madrid defender was there with a tackle, an interception or a header.
It is impossible to keep Ronaldo and Rooney quiet all night though and both men found themselves one-on-one with Schwarzer, yet failed to score.
In fairness, Ronaldo left himself a virtually impossible task as he rounded the Boro keeper but, from the tightest of angles he still managed to roll his shot against a post.
Rooney though had no excuse after Michael Carrick sliced a pass straight through the heart of Boro's defence. This time, the England man went early, only for Schwarzer to save with his right foot.
It appeared extra-time was inevitable only for Woodgate to offer Ronaldo the chance to settle the issue when he sent the Portugal winger sprawling.
Of the three spot-kicks United have gained at Middlesbrough's expense this season, this was the least contentious. And Ronaldo did not miss.
The goal signalled the start of a bad-tempered end to the game which, amid a plethora of yellow cards, saw James Morrison sent off for a wicked injury-time tackle on Ronaldo.
Branded a cheat by Gareth Southgate for what the Boro boss felt was clear dive at the Riverside earlier this season, Ronaldo subsequently rammed home the penalty which earned United their quarter-final replay nine days ago after George Boateng had handled at close range inside his own box.
And this morning, in a tie that seemed to be heading inexorably for extra-time, Ronaldo was the man sent flying again as Jonathan Woodgate made his only mistake of the night.
The pair were flying for the dead ball line at top speed with 15 minutes of the contest remaining. But, even though Woodgate wisely opted not to attempt a tackle, he caught Ronaldo's trailing leg as he fell, leaving referee Mike Dean little alternative than to point to the spot.
Once the visitors' arguments subsided, Ronaldo strode up to break Boro's resistance by sending Mark Schwarzer the wrong way, taking United into the last four and one step closer a dream Wembley showdown with title rivals Chelsea on May 19.
Ronaldo ran past the Boro bench and made a sign of a TV with his fingers in what could have been an invitation for Southgate and his staff to look at the TV replays.
At the end of the game stewards moved quickly as words were exchanged by members of both backroom staff from both teams.
Having come through three replays and two penalty shoot-outs to reach this point, Boro had already shown a tenacity that proved they would not be easily dismissed from the competition.
And little that occurred in the opening period suggested their stickability had lost any of its adhesive quality on the trip down from Teesside.
Unusually for any side meeting one of the 'big four', Boro were actually that little bit fresher than their injury-hit opponents.
It might not have gone down well with Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock in particular but Southgate's decision to leave Woodgate, Mark Viduka and Julio Arca out of the team that lost against Manchester City on Saturday was vindicated by a battling first-half performance.
The visitors carved out at least as many half chances as their hosts, with Viduka going close with a snap-shot that Tomasz Kuszczak could have done nothing about had it been an inch the other side of his right-hand post.
Ronaldo was equally unfortunate to see an early shot curl just wide and if anyone was going to light up the game, it was the Portugal winger.
His previous against Boro ensured he was booed by the travelling fans every time he got the ball. Not that the reaction put him off and one brilliant piece of skill took him past Matthew Taylor and Emanuel Pogatetz, only for Woodgate to slide in and prevent former Leeds team-mate Alan Smith bundling home.
Bereft of clear opportunities, the contest seemed destined to see its opening goal three minutes before the break when Ryan Giggs set Wayne Rooney free with a superb slide-rule pass.
In a similar position against Bolton on Saturday, the England man calmly chipped home. Here, he attempted to round Schwarzer and the Australian simply stuck out an arm and took the ball away from him.
The second period was as closely contested as the first, with Woodgate catching the eye, more through his ability to read United's intentions than anything else.
Each time the Red Devils threatened, it seemed the Real Madrid defender was there with a tackle, an interception or a header.
It is impossible to keep Ronaldo and Rooney quiet all night though and both men found themselves one-on-one with Schwarzer, yet failed to score.
In fairness, Ronaldo left himself a virtually impossible task as he rounded the Boro keeper but, from the tightest of angles he still managed to roll his shot against a post.
Rooney though had no excuse after Michael Carrick sliced a pass straight through the heart of Boro's defence. This time, the England man went early, only for Schwarzer to save with his right foot.
It appeared extra-time was inevitable only for Woodgate to offer Ronaldo the chance to settle the issue when he sent the Portugal winger sprawling.
Of the three spot-kicks United have gained at Middlesbrough's expense this season, this was the least contentious. And Ronaldo did not miss.
The goal signalled the start of a bad-tempered end to the game which, amid a plethora of yellow cards, saw James Morrison sent off for a wicked injury-time tackle on Ronaldo.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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