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MOTD- Manchester United 2-1 Sunderland (3-3 agg) (Sunderland win 2-1 on pens)

By on January 22, 2014

It was a classic Manchester United cup semifinal.  All the drama possible, plus some more.  In terms of entertainment, there is no doubt that it was one of most thrilling high-profile matches since the 2006 World Cup final, but unlike so many other Manchester United thrillers in the Sir Alex Ferguson era the fairytale ending went in favor of the opposition at Old Trafford.  It was equivalent the slipper not fitting Cinderella’s foot.

However, that didn’t make match any less thrilling. The night even had that nerve-wracking stomach churning feeling that always accompanies penalties, but not before Manchester United made their trademark last gasp comeback. There was even that glimmer of hope United never fail to find on the horizon, but Sunderland still managed to stamp out that hope of a Capital One Cup final after the one of the least successful penalty shoot-outs handed that chance of silverware to the Black Cats.

However, none of the drama came before the rather drab opening half.  Although Javier Hernandez’s powerful far post header from Adnan Januzaj’s whipping cross from the right was only just parried away by Vito Mannone just six minutes in, chances were few and far between early on in the Capital One Cup semifinal second leg.  Sixteen minutes into the match Fabio Borini created a chance out of nothing by sending a vicious dipping volley just over the bar from thirty yards, but the first real chance had to wait until the thirty-sixth minute when Shinji Kagawa sent a delicious cross towards the far post from the right. Darren Fletcher headed the ball onto the far post, and although Danny Welbeck couldn’t turn home the rebound United redeemed themselves from the fowling corner.

Welbeck flicked the corner towards the far post with a scuffed shot, and Jonny Evans could hardly fail to head the ball home from three yards, and didn’t, tucking a low header away. United continued to push forward in search of a goal that would win the tie as the match rolled into the second half, with Januzaj’s fierce long range effort dipping inches wide of the post just before the clock hit the hour mark, yet the score somehow remained 1-0 at the full time whistle.

Thus, extra-time began. It was all going so swell for United in extra-time as the home side nearly doubled their lead in the hundred-and-second minute when Hernandez sent Januzaj’s cross blazing over the bar with only Mannone to beat. However, a minute before the end of extra-time Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea fumbled a blaring mistake that should have put the tie to bed for Sunderland. Phil Bardsley’s low effort from the edge of the box weakly rolled right into the arms of De Gea, but the Spaniard accidentally shuffled the ball into the back of the net.

Yet in one of the most dramatic finishes of all time Hernandez slammed the ball into the roof if the Sunderland net to make it 3-3 in the tie and take it to penalties. Gardner and Welbeck skied the opening two spot-kicks, yet Fletcher and Alonso both made their club’s second penalties, but Januzaj, who had been brilliant all night, missed his first ever penalty in United colors. Ki then scored for Sunderland while Phil Jones sent his penalty miles over, leaving Adam Johnson with the deciding kick. However, the winger had his shot saved by De Gea, but then Rafael missed his must make kick to give Sunderland the dramatic 2-1 win in spot-kicks and book the visitors a spot in the final with Manchester City.
Man of the Match: Adnan Januzaj

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.