Manchester United exit Capital One Cup on penalties
FA to Investigate Laser Shone in Wayne Rooney’s Face in Capital One Cup Shootout
Middlesbrough won 3-1 on penalties after extra time. A goalless 0-0 Capital One Cup result over the course of 120 minutes forced a penalty shootout at Old Trafford to decide matters. Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick and Ashley Young all missed their kicks as Middlesbrough emerged 3-1 winners booking their spot in the League Cup Quarter Finals.
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In a disappointing loss, United boss Louis van Gaal changed his lineup heavily with perhaps too many youngsters in the starting XI.
Aitor Karanka's Middlesbrough dangerous Championship side defended superbly. Centre-back Daniel Ayala played well keeping Anthony Martial at bay.
Film shot at the Fourth Round Capital One Cup tie between Manchester United and Middlesbrough at Old Trafford yesterday clearly shows a bright green light appearing on Wayne Rooney’s face as he readied to take his penalty kick in the post time shootout to determine which club would go on to the League Cup Quarter Finals.
The United and England captain Rooney’s effort was stopped by alert Middlesbrough goalkeeper Tomás Mejías as United lost 3-1 in penalties to the Championship club following a surprising 0-0 draw in extra time.
The FA remarked it was looking into the matter and opening an investigation after receiving reports of the incident that happened at the end of the ground where around 10,000 Boro supporters were sitting.
The question is whether a fan shone a green laser pointer in Rooney’s face to distract him just before he missed his shot in the penalty shootout.
The incident set Louis van Gaal's men off to a bad start and United were quickly eliminated after Michael Carrick shot high and missed the target and Mejias saved Ashley Young’s shot.
Rooney declined to bring up the laser incident in his post-match interview.
Thirty year old Rooney began the game on the bench as van Gaal looked to rest several of his key footballers saying they were fatigued and "in the red" with the potential danger of incurring an injury.
Van Gaal replaced teenager James Wilson at half-time.
Red Devils manager van Gaal said after the match that Aitor Karanka's Championship team were "lucky" to win.
"It is more like the casino, red or black," said Van Gaal to BBC. “We trained yesterday on penalties, but it is like that. I cannot take them. They were lucky but of course you can force the luck."
"We have created a lot of chances, especially in the second half and in extra time. We had chances from one meter, two meters in front of the goal. We have to finish those. In football it is always the goals that are counting and not the chances," continued van Gaal.
Striker Marouane Fellaini turned in a good performance and came close to opening the scoring just before half-time but his shot was blocked by George Friend.
Arsenal and Chelsea were eliminated from the tournament just the night before.
By the way, looking forward to next year, Real Madrid superstar and former Manchester United teammate of Rooney’s Cristiano Ronaldo will return to Manchester United and Old Trafford next year after accepting an invitation from Rooney to take part in Rooney's testimonial to recognize and honor the England superstar striker’s amazing career at Old Trafford.
