Brave Boro made it another night to remember at Old Trafford with a penalty shootout victory over Manchester United.

The Teessiders rode their luck at times, but worked tirelessly throughout and took the all-important opportunities when they came along to engineer a cup upset over their Premier League opponents.

Chris Wilder opted to make a single change from last weekend’s league victory over Coventry City, with Folarin Balogun replacing Aaron Connolly for his first start in a Boro shirt.

The hosts’ manager Ralf Rangnick, meanwhile, was clearly taking their task seriously. Paul Pogba returned from injury to start, and was joined in the line-up by the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Just shy of 9,500 travelling Teessiders were determined to make their voices heard at Old Trafford, and the match began to a chorus of songs from the away end.

A defensive mix-up very nearly made it a nightmare start. Boro failed to deal with a ball over the top, and when it came out to Sancho on the edge of the box he looked to loft it over Joe Lumley - only the crossbar denied him.

Cristiano Ronaldo then showed his athleticism to meet a Sancho cross with an overhead kick, and connected well, but not well enough to trouble Lumley.

With twenty played, United were handed another golden opportunity to take the lead, when Anfernee Dijksteel slipped and brought Pogba crashing to the floor. VAR was in place for the first time in Boro’s season, but even the most fervent fan would struggle to argue against the awarding of a spot-kick.

Up stepped Ronaldo, and there was an air of inevitability about the result. But, to the delight of the travelling support, the Portuguese dragged his effort narrowly wide of the mark.

Boro’s joy was short lived, though. With 25 played, the lively Sancho collected the ball on United’s left, and his shot from the angle skimmed the boot of Isaiah Jones before nestling in the bottom corner.

Having taken the lead, the hosts continued to dominate the chances. Ronaldo drew another, better save from Lumley, and Marcus Rashford had the ball in the net for the second time of the evening, only to be denied by the assistant’s flag.

The closest Boro came in a testing first half was when Folarin Balogun momentarily found space on the counter - but his bending effort had too much on it and cleared Dean Henderson’s goal.

The second half started in a similar pattern, Rashford sent an effort over the top after being picked out by Sancho in space, and Ronaldo lashed one into the side netting.

But there was more positivity from Boro, too. Matt Crooks brought a fine diving save from Dean Henderson at the end of a flowing move from first Marcus Tavernier then Isaiah Jones - the keeper tipping Crooks’ near post shot over the bar.

Soon after, boyhood United fan Crooks had his moment to savour. Duncan Watmore, on as a substitute, was picked out in the United box and lofted the ball over Henderson, and Crooks was on hand to slide in and provide the finish.

While Boro went ballistic, the home side furiously appealed for handball from Watmore in the build-up, but neither Anthony Taylor or VAR saw fit to overturn Boro’s leveller.

As the game got back underway, Rashford stung the palms of Lumley with a vicious strike, then another golden chance came for United of Boro’s own doing. Bruno Fernandes stole possession as the Teessiders tried to play it out from the back, but with the goal at his mercy rolled the ball against the post.

Nothing could separate the sides in 90 minutes, and Boro called for further reinforcements as an extra 30 beckoned. Lee Peltier and Aaron Connolly were introduced, in place of Neil Taylor and Andraz Sporar. Martin Payero had earlier replaced the goalscorer Crooks. Sol Bamba would also come on late on.

Rain began to lash down as extra time wore on, and it was Boro who came closest to finding a winning goal. A deep free-kick was nodded across goal and flicked on by Connolly, but Henderson once again produced an excellent one-handed save.

Penalties were required to settle the tie, and it was no simple task. Boro took first at the Stretford End; one, two, three…all the way to eight green shirts stepped up to coolly put their penalties away. The hosts were equal to Boro’s standards, until youngster Anthony Elanga blazed over, and signalled the start of the party for Boro.

MATCH REPORT: Man United 1 Boro 1 (Boro Win On Penalties)