Penalty heartbreak for United as Sunderland scrape through to Capital One Cup Final in bizarre shoot-out.
Manchester United fans gathered at Old Trafford on the eve of this match hopeful that their team, who are in the process of acquiring the services of midfield maestro Juan Mata, could emulate their 2009 and 2010 campaigns in this competition by turning around a 2-1 first-leg deficit.
David Moyes was still without his star strikers Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie who missed out with groin and thigh strains respectively. Nemanja Vidic started a three-match ban after his red card at Chelsea leaving Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans to partner up in central defence. Javier Hernandez and Danny Welbeck both started up front with Shinji Kagawa and Adnan Januzaj adding flare to the United attack. John O'shea returned for Sunderland to start against his former club although Valentin Roberge and Mobido Diakite were still absent from the back four with knocks.
The home side quickly tried to get the tie back on level terms and made a bright start with Mannone keeping out a Hernandez header off a good set piece from Januzaj in the opening six minutes. Sunderland still carried a threat on the counter-attack though and United fans were thankful to see on-loan Liverpool striker Borini's long-range volley sail just over the bar halfway through the half.
United had a golden opportunity to score when Kagawa lifted the ball to Fletcher who had ghosted in towards the far post but the Scot could only volley the ball against the bar. Luckily for United they finally made the break seconds later having forced a corner. Januzaj took it and it was Evans who headed the ball home after Welbeck had steered it goalwards with a miskick.
Sunderland still created chances, particularly off set pieces and Buttner had to be alert to stop a Brown header from crossing the line just before half time. The aggregate score was 2-2 going into the second half and United continued to create chances although many of them were poorly executed and most of their efforts were not on target. Januzaj was United's best attacking outlet and he sent a couple of efforts agonisingly wide in the second half. For Sunderland it was Johnson who carried their main threat and he also dragged a shot wide after creating a good opportunity to shoot. Johnson was the main man in terms of creativity too and set up Alonso for a fine shot that he volleyed just across the face of goal and out for a goal kick.
Januzaj had a free kick saved in injury time but it was not enough and the game, still level on aggregate, went to extra time. United should really have been ahead in the 11th minute of first half extra time as brilliant work from Januzaj on the wing allowed him to pick out Hernandez and set him free on goal for a one-versus-one with the keeper. However, the Mexican shot too early and sent the ball well wide of the post, leaving Mannone to breathe a sigh of relief.
The final few minutes of second half extra time then provided more drama than the whole of the other 115 minutes as Sunderland finally managed to put the ball in the net and edge the tie 2-3 on aggregate. Sunderland were working the ball around United's box with little threat but when the ball fell to United old boy Bardsley outside the box with a couple of minutes to play he hit a hopeful shot towards goal that was fairly tame and looked like an easy save for De Gea. It was to the delight of the 9,000 travelling Sunderland fans when De Gea uncharacteristically fumbled the ball and threw it in his own goal to gift the Mackems the lead.
Just when it looked as though it would be Sunderland heading to Wembley, United served up some more drama with an equaliser in stoppage time of extra time. Januzaj sent a cross into the box and goal poacher Hernandez was there to tap it home in the dying seconds to send the dramatic game to penalties.
Sunderland's Gardner took the first penalty and sent it soaring over the bar to give United the advantage. However, Danny Welbeck's penalty was just as bad and he sent the ball high and wide. De Gea then saved Fletcher's tame penalty for Sunderland before United's Fletcher was the first man to convert a penalty to put United 1-0 up. Alonso then followed to put Sunderland's first penalty in the net. It was then inevitable that one of United's best performers on the night would miss as Januzaj sent a poor penalty into the arms of Mannone. Ki then scored to put Sunderland 2-1 ahead and after misses from the remaining takers Jones (United), Johnson (Sunderland) and Rafael (United), 2-1 was enough to send the visitors to a Capital One Cup Final against Manchester City.
Gus Poyet's men will be hoping that the final is less dramatic after this finish where many of their 9,000 fans were left biting their nails and covering their eyes. United were once again left to rue missed chances but they were ultimately let down by a goalkeeping error and an array of terrible penalties. Sunderland's weren't much better but the Black Cats still put more in the net and ultimately probably deserve their chance at silverware in March.
United now must pick themselves back up for home game in the league against Cardiff in just under a weeks' time where they will be hopeful of a much-needed return to action for Rooney and Van Persie.
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