Penalty shootout: B. Gibson (Middlesbrough) scored!
Penalty shootout: A. Young (Manchester United) missed!
124'
Penalty shootout: M. Carrick (Manchester United) missed!
123'
Penalty shootout: S. Downing (Middlesbrough) scored!
Penalty shootout: Andreas Pereira (Manchester United) scored!
122'
Penalty shootout: D. Nugent (Middlesbrough) missed!
Penalty shootout: W. Rooney (Manchester United) missed!
121'
Penalty shootout: G. Leadbitter (Middlesbrough) scored!
120' +5
120' +4
120' +3
120' +2
FULL-TIME! Stay tuned for a penalty shootout!
120' +1
ANOTHER MISS! Lingard is there creator in chief again, as he crosses from the right, but Fellaini manages to head over from eight yards. Boro have seemingly held on to force a shootout!
Minute
Description
120'
There will be one minute added on.
119'
WHAT A MISS! Young produces another excellent cross to the back post, where Lingard is waiting to nod it back across the face of goal. Martial is there seemingly on hand to nod home, but he inexplicably misses the target. What a let-off for Boro!
117'
More penalty claims rejected for United. Ayala is again the Boro man involved, with the ball seeming to strike him on the arm as he tackled Martial just inside his own penalty area.
116'
JUST WIDE! United catch Boro on the break and Fellaini shows good awareness to pick out Pereira. The midfielder skips past a tackle on the edge of the area and then sends a drilled effort agonisingly past the post.
114'
A. Clayton enters the game and replaces J. Stephens.
Nsue tussles with his counterpart again. First he delights Boro fans with a few bit of skill, before then drawing laughter from the home support as he trips over during a stepover.
112'
Free-kick for Boro now out on the right, as Nsue is fouled by Young. United aren't impressed, though, as they feel the England international was fouled first.
110'
AYALA TO THE RESCUE! Marvellous play by Martial as the Frenchman turns on the edge of the box, dribbles past a couple of challenges and then looks destined to pull the trigger, but he is halted by a combination of Ayala and Gibson, who have both been excellent today.
108'
United have a problem here. Pereira has gone down off the ball clutching his hamstring and appears to be in some discomfort. If he cannot continue then United will have to play on with ten men.
107'
There's not much to United's plan at the moment. It seems to be that they are crossing towards Fellaini everytime they get forward. On this occasion Young's cross is plucked out of the area by Mejias.
106'
Boro get the second half of extra-time underway.
105' +2
HALF-TIME!
105' +1
That's poor. Pereira's delivery is deep and goes straight into the arms of Mejias. The referee's whistle for half-time in extra-time goes straight after.
105'
Surely for the last action of the half, Martial wins a free-kick out on the left and Pereira goes over to take it. What can they come up with here?
102'
United look at the their most threatening with Martial on the ball. This time he is forced to tee up the overlapping Pereira, though, and then his cross curls all the way out for a goal-kick.
100'
Brilliant turn by Martial, as he receives a pass up the flank and flicks it inside the evade Ayala. He is held up, though, and then forced to find Rooney, who laboriously tries his luck from distance and sees his effort blocked.
98'
HOW DID THAT STAY OUT? United work the ball really well up to Fellaini, who hold it up well and find Rooney, who produces a return pass. The Belgian finds Pereira and then continues his run to get on the Brazilian's cross, but he can't quite get a touch on it from virtually underneath the crossbar. Boro escape.
96'
Boro are back on the attack here and Leadbitter causes problems again, as the captain sending a crashing effort charged down by Smalling. That was going to trouble Romero.
95'
Lingard appears to do well to ride the challenge of Zuculini in the middle, but he is then penalised raising his foot when attempting to get out of the way of the Argentine.
93'
Proceedings certainly haven't resumed like they ended in regulation time here. United are seeing all of the ball, but it all looks a little more considered, rather than the gung-ho nature of both teams towards the end.
91'
Here we go for extra-time!
90' +4
The two sides remain level as Lee Mason brings proceedings to a close, but don't go anywhere - extra-time (and potentially penalties, too) coming right up!
90' +3
END OF REGULATION TIME!
90' +2
ROMERO AGAIN! Boro probe again down the right and Nsue crosses. Kike comes across and meets it with a hammering half-volley, but again the goalkeeper makes a crucial save.
90' +1
ROMERO TO THE RESCUE! What a chance for Boro! Leadbitter races on to a pass played behind Blind and he has only the on-rushing goalkeeper to beat. He tries to loft the ball over the Argentine, but he makes the save!
90'
OFF THE WOODWORK! United go so close to taking the lead! Young breezes past Nsue and crosses left-footed. The delivery is flicked on to the back post and Lingard meets it, sending a thumping half-volley on to the frame of the goal!
88'
Lingard has been one of few positive points for United. He picks up possession again on the right, jolts towards Friend and then crosses, but Stephens makes a crucial header to clear ahead of Fellaini.
86'
Time is running out for United. At the moment they are not looking destined to take the lead anytime soon, with Mejias not having much to do in the last ten minutes or so.
84'
D. Nugent enters the game and replaces Kike García.
Very good defending from Ayala just inside the United half, as he wrestles Rooney for the ball, comes out with it and then get a free-kick. The United captain really hasn't made much of an impact.
82'
Carrick plays the corner corner to Young, who whips in a fine cross. Smalling meets it with a glancing header, which goes just wide of the right-hand post.
81'
Fellaini is involved again now, this time on the left. He battles away and manages to force a corner when it looked as though he'd lost the ball for United.
80'
Another shot is wasted for United. Rooney initially causes problems with a clever run, only to be crowded out. He passes the ball back out of the area for Carrick, who hammers a pass into Pereira's feet. He dribbles past one defender and tees up Fellaini, whose ultimate attempt is awful.
79'
Here comes a change for Boro, as on-loan Man City midfielder Zuculini comes on for his debut.
78'
B. Zuculini enters the game and replaces C. de Pena.
77'
Good link-up play down the left between Young and Martial. The former cuts inside and produces a deep cross towards the back post for Fellaini, but Mejias catches the resulting header with ease.
75'
In the last few minutes Boro have started to sit back again, inviting pressure on to themselves, seemingly happy to settle with extra-time. Martial is already causing all sorts of problems.
73'
Good play by Lingard on the right, as he rides a tackle and then squeezes a cross into the area. Rooney just about beats Ayala to it, but the Spaniard does recover well and deals with things.
71'
A. Martial enters the game and replaces M. Depay.
Another change for United now. It's Martial time, with Depay making way.
70'
NO HANDBALL! United are adamant that they should have a penalty, as Darmian's low cross appears to strike the arm of Ayala. Boro might have escaped there.
68'
LEADBITTER DENIED! Boro really are giving as good as they're getting at the moment. They go close again this time, as Leadbitter gets in behind Blind and fires towards goal, only for Romero to palm it away.
67'
The Boro corner comes to little, though, and Lingard surges forward with the ball. He bursts into the Boro half and continues to run. He eventually slips Fellaini in to his right, but the cross is blocked behind.
Pereira takes over from Depay on corner duties. His delivery sees a bit of a melee ensue, with a host of players scrambling for the ball. Eventually Boro take it away as Blind sees a shot blocked.
65'
ALMOST A GOALKEEPING CALAMITY! Blind is chased down by Kike and opts to pass back to Romero. It should be a routine clearance for the goalkeeper, but he lets it slip past his foot. Luckily, however, it rolls past the post. That was dreadful!
63'
Lovely feet from Lingard. The midfielder cuts in from the right and links well with Fellaini. He gets the ball back and then dribbles past two challenges before firing straight at Mejias from 20 yards.
62'
Van Gaal now makes his second change, as Young replaces Rojo.
61'
A. Young enters the game and replaces M. Rojo.
Another good chance for United, as Depay latches on to Pereira's pass into the area, skips inside Ayala and then inexplicably fails to connect with his shot. Boro escape again.
60'
Boro have the ball in the net but it won't count, as Kike is flagged offside. The assistant spotted it in good time but the visitors failed to notice for a while, resulting in celebrations being cut short.
59'
CRUCIAL TACKLE! United find themselves a little short of numbers at the back for a moment as Kike latches on to a bouncing ball. He cleverly knocks the ball over Smalling and looks set to go through one-on-one with Romero, but Carrick comes in with a last-ditch tackle and ends the danger.
58'
Mejias is being kept busy out there at the moment. This time it is Fellaini who tries his luck after an incisive pass from Darmian, but once again the goalkeeper makes a simple save.
57'
Good try by Pereira, as the Brazilian receives a pass from Fellaini, cuts on to his right foot and tries his luck from 30 yards, but Mejias makes a simple save.
56'
Boro are hanging on a bit now. United are attacking with more purpose at the moment and bombarding the visitors' penalty area. Van Gaal's men are moving the ball quicker too and starting to get shots away.
54'
MEJIAS GOES UNPUNISHED! Excellent tackle in the middle by Rooney and the ball lands kindly for Depay, who tries his luck from distance. His effort is straight at the goalkeeper, but it squirms through him and is just about kept out as the perpetrator recovers.
53'
What a waste. Depay takes the corner short and the attack quickly loses all momentum. United remain on the front foot, but Fellaini and Blind are only able to inspire a throw-in on the left.
52'
Fellaini gets into an advanced position and urges Darmian forward with a through pass. The Italian obliges and manages to win a corner off Friend. What can they muster here?
50'
United look to have a little more urgency about them at the start of this second half. Perhaps that is down to Rooney's intro, though one suspects a half-time dressing down from Van Gaal might have something to do with it. Nevertheless, it has been all United since the restart.
48'
There is Rooney's first involvement, as he drops to the edge of the Boro area to receive Depay's pass and immediately clip it out to the right. Lingard swiftly gives it away, though.
47'
Clearly unimpressed with his team's first-half performance, Van Gaal has opted to introduce Wayne Rooney at the break. Wilson has made way.
46'
W. Rooney enters the game and replaces J. Wilson.
Off we go for the second half.
45' +1
HALF-TIME!
45'
There will be a minute added on here.
44'
Depay is having one today. This time he picks up possession out on the right and does manage to jink past De Pena, but his next touch is heavy and he runs straight into Stephens.
42'
BRAVO, ROMERO! Boro are quick to get men forward again and Downing manages to escape the attentions of United. He cuts in from the right and sends a powerful left-footed drive towards goal, but the goalkeeper produces a brilliant save to tip it over.
41'
WHAT A BLOCK BY FRIEND! A Depay corner sails all the way over the area only to be picked up again by United. Fellaini brings the ball down at the back post following a fine delivery from Pereira, but his half-volley is crucially blocked by Friend at the last moment.
40'
What a pass from Ayala, as the defender lofts the ball over the United defence for Kike. The striker latches on to it and attempts to loft the ball over Romero, but he doesn't quite get enough on it.
38'
Lingard does really well on the right in his own half, as he rides a challenge, feeds Wilson, accepts the return pass and then gives it back against. The striker has Friend for coming and he looks to have escaped the defender's attetions, only for the referee to bring it back for a perceived foul. It actually looked like it was the United man being fouled.
36'
Excellent defending by Kalas! Depay is given huge amounts of space out on the left and he has just Ayala to beat. He runs at the Spaniard, cuts inside and shapes to shoot, but at the crucial moment, Boro's right-back muscles in and halts the attack. It must be said that Depay should have done better there, though.
35'
Thirty-five minutes, that's how long it has taken for United to have their first shot on goal. Depays does well in a central position, poking a pass through to Wilson, who gets a snap shot away and forces Mejias into an easy save.
34'
Well that was ambitious! Depay appears to spot Mejias off his line in the Boro goal and he tries his luck from near the halfway line. However, it cause the goalkeeper no problems.
32'
Lingard certainly looks the most likely to provide the spark for United so far. This time he pops up on the left, breezes past one defender and gets into the area. He goes for goal but sees his effort well blocked.
31'
Depay takes the free-kick again, but as before his delivery is pretty poor and cleared quickly by Boro. United win a throw-in soon after, but Darmian wastes it by committing a foul throw.
30'
Excellent play by Lingard, as the England Under-21 international darts in from the right, surging past two defenders in the process. Friend tries to halt him but fouls the midfielder and then picks up a booking.
29'
Good play by Pereira, as he drifts across towards the middle and then slips the ball through to Fellaini, who turns well and swings his left foot at it. His effort, however, goes well wide of the target.
28'
Boro are starting to see more of the ball in the United half now. They aren't creating an awful lot, but they are at least beginning to ask questions of the hosts.
27'
Depay tries his luck against the Boro defence alone this time, jsut about keeping the ball in play and then running at Ayala. He weaves in and out, skips past two challenges but then runs into trouble, before conceding a free-kick.
25'
Good battling by Lingard as he races forward with three for company. He appears to be dispossessed, but he gets it back again and plays a clever pass in behind Friend for Darmian, who just about manages to latch on to it before knocking it out for a goal-kick.
23'
Pereira highlights his ability on the ball again by skipping past a challenge in impressive fashion inside his own half, but the pass over the defence which followed was not quite as good, going straight out of play before Depay can collect.
21'
That's a bit better from United. Pereira does well in the middle after excellent work by Lingard. The Brazilian looks to find his fellow midfielder again soon after and picks out a brilliant cross-field pass. The hosts work the ball back to the opposite flank for Depay, who delivers a deep cross which Fellaini just fails to bring down.
19'
It's just not clicking for United at the moment. Rojo and Depay link up on the right and the latter picks out a good pass into Wilson's feet. The striker holds it up and manages to hold off Ayala, but then a heavy touch gives possession straight back to Boro.
17'
BORO SHOULD BE AHEAD! Friend does well to win a corner on the left and, although the initial cross is cleared, Leadbitter hooks it back into the area. Nsue meets it with a wayward overhead-kick, though it lands kindly at the back post for Friend, who inexplicably fails to beat Romero from four yards.
16'
Smalling shows Lingard how to do it, as the England international races forward to meet a pass from De Pena to Friend. The pair go in together, but it is the United man who is more decisive.
14'
That's a naught tackle by Lingard! The midfielder's first touch is heavy and is forced to stretch for the ball in order to beat Leadbitter to it. He fails and catches the Boro captain with his studs, though he somehow escapes without a booking.
13'
Positive run by Nsue there, as the former Spain youth international darts in from the right and gets into the area. He ultimately runs into Blind, who is sturdy enough to block the winger and take the ball away.
12'
That's very sloppy from Smalling, as the United defender passes out of defence and straight to De Pena. The Uruguayan darts forward and just about manages to keep possession. Play is then switched out to the right and the away side win a throw-in.
11'
Depay takes the free-kick out on the right, but it causes Boro little difficulty, as the visitors clear it almost instantly. United will have to do better than that.
10'
Good play by Darmian. The right-back finds himself in an advanced position and his faced up by De Pena, but the Italian skips past his opponent and lures him into a foul. Depay comes over to take the free-kick.
7'
Almost a bright moment for the visitors there, as Ayala's hopeful ball from the back is nearly latched on to by Kike. The striker loses out to Smalling, whose clearance is not great, but De Pena soon gives the ball away against after recovering possession.
6'
Fellaini is the latest to test the Boro defence, as he plays a good give-and-go with Depay and then surges in from the left. The Belgian tries to charge straight through the middle of the backline, but Ayala sticks a foot in to good effect.
5'
Unsurprisingly it is United seeing more of the ball at the moment, stroking it around well and without much pressure from the visitors. It could be a long day for Boro if things carry on like this.
3'
Lovely interchange on the left between Pereira and Depay, as the Brazilian finds the Dutchman, receives the ball back via a clever flick and then plays Wilson up the line. Ayala does well to come across and tackle the striker, though.
2'
There is the first cheer of the day for the Boro fans, as Smalling tries to coolly spread the play out to Lingard on the right, but his pass flies straight off the pitch. That was a little careless. A sign of things to come?
1'
Off we go! United get us started with Wilson and Fellaini.
Hello and welcome to the LIVE coverage of the Capital One Cup contest between Manchester United and Middlesbrough. My name is Ryan Benson and I shall be describing the action for you as these two sides go head-to-head at Old Trafford, looking to clinch a spot in the quarter-finals. Can United avoid an upset, or will it be the Championship side progressing?
TEAM NEWS:
Manchester United starting XI (4-3-3): Romero; Darmian, Smalling, Blind, Rojo; Carrick, Fellaini, Pereira; Lingard, Wilson, Depay.
United substitutes: De Gea, Young, Schweinsteiger, Herrera, Mata, Martial, Rooney.
Middlesbrough starting XI (4-4-2): Mejias; Kalas, Ayala, Gibson, Friend; Nsue, Leadbitter, Stephens, Downing; De Pena, Kike.
Today's match represents something of an opportunity for plenty in the United team. Louis van Gaal was not overly impressed, understandly, with the performance against City in Sunday's Manchester derby and has predictably made changes for the visit of Championship side Middlesbrough. The back four remains fairly familiar, though in midfield Carrick has been given the chance to complete his comeback from injury, alongside Marouane Fellaini and Andreas Pereira, who has impressed in fleeting appearances this season.
In attack things also look considerably different, with three changes made. Jesse Lingard has caught the eye in recent weeks, namely against CSKA Moscow and then in a brief cameo against City at the weekend. He slots in on the right in place of Juan Mata, while Memphis Depay - off form and out of favour in the Premier League - comes in on the left, desperate to impress after losing his starting spot since the start of the season. Through the middle, James Wilson is deployed. The young English striker will have United fans hoping for a significant impact, with many losing patience with Wayne Rooney, who is named among the subs.
United defeated Ipswich Town in the last round and rarely succumb to shock defeats to teams in lower leagues, though Middlesbrough will take solace in the fact that just last year they were thumped 4-0 by MK Dons in this very competition. In the Championship Middlesbrough have been doing well and sit fourth at the moment, though they have only won one of their last four league games. Although United are by no means at full-strength, Aitor Karanka will recognise that his side look set to be up against things considering some of the quality in the hosts' line-up.
The two teams are now out on the pitch at Old Trafford, with kick-off just a few minutes away.
Referee Lee Mason brings the first half to a close as the two sides go into the break level. United have seen much more of the ball, but they can have no complaints about not being ahead at the interval. In fact, Boro have created the better chances and have not been overly worried at the back, with the hosts managing just one shot on goal so far. Van Gaal will not be happy with what he has seen, particularly from Depay, who has done little right so far. Much to think about for the United boss.
Up first is Leadbitter of Boro. Can the captain net?
YES HE CAN! What a penalty. The Boro captain gave Romero no chance, smashing into the top-left corner. Now it's Rooney's turn.
SAVED!!! MEJIAS DENIES ROONEY! The Boro goalkeeper turns the United captain's kick around the post!
MISS! NUGENT SMASHES OVER!
CALM AS YOU LIKE! Pereira strokes home!
GOAL! Boro are back in the lead as Downing fires home.
OVER! WHAT A MISS! Carrick steps up and slices over the crossbar!
WHAT A HIT! Gibson steps up to blast past Romero, almost taking the goal with it.
BORO ARE THROUGH!!! Young steps up to take his kick and sees it saved by Mejias! Manchester United are OUT on penalties!
Well, it's all over! Middlesbrough go through to the quarter-finals of the League Cup thanks to a 3-1 penalties win over Manchester United at Old Trafford. United dominated the ball throughout, but Boro created the better chances and defended admirably, with Ayala starring. In the end it all came down to the shootout and the combination of some dreadful kicks and Mejias' saves, the visitors go through.
Thank you for joining me tonight. I hope you have enjoyed the action!
Commentary
More…