Kenny's cruel exit as own goal sends Boro into last eight

Poor Sheffield United keeper Paddy Kenny had held firm for more than 200 minutes of these two Cup ties, although his goal had led a rather charmed life during Boro's bright and dominant start.

But, as penalties loomed with seven minutes of extra-time remaining, former Republic of Ireland keeper Kenny slapped a deflected shot over his own goalline to gift Boro a home quarter-final showdown against Cardiff.

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The winner was typical of the game — poor. Mido launched a header into the visitors' penalty area hoping to find Tuncay.

The ball came back to him from Mathew Kilgannon's heel.

His shot on the rebound looped over Kenny as Chris Morgan dived in to stop it and hit the post.

The United keeper watched the ball dance over his head and reached out a hand to keep it out, only to divert it into the net.

He then lay distraught as Boro players celebrated, before home supporters serenaded him with a chorus of: "One Paddy Kenny."

Understandably, Kenny was furious when he was pursued by a brave cameraman the length of the pitch as he went to acknowledge his own fans.

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Boro boss Gareth Southgate acknowledged the toughness of the match.

He said: "We had injuries and suspensions and had we not gone through it would have been a good story. We had to deal with that pressure but in the end guts got us through. There was maybe some luck with the goal but there would have been a valid claim for handball if it hadn't gone in.

"Sheffield were fantastic over the two games. Physically they pushed us all the way, created chances and defended resiliently."

After the dismal goalless draw at Bramall Lane, BBC schedulers must have been out of their minds to screen this match in prime time.

But, in fairness, the Riverside warmed to an impressive opening half from Boro, who could have turned their dominance into a handy lead.

Afonso Alves, the £12million man most fans came to see, could have marked his first start with an early goal.

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And the man who made a living humbling minnows in Holland — he scored nine in one game — will feel he should have done so.

He lost marker Morgan with enough ease to meet fellow Brazilian Fabio Rochemback's corner but was unable to make enough contact to trouble Kenny.

Alves then came close to making Gary Naysmith pay for a nasty trip on him 30 yards out which earned the Scot a caution.

Alves struck a wonderful free-kick with his right foot which cleared the United wall by some distance and moved in viciously towards Kenny, who had to make an awkward save with both hands to keep the ball out.

Kenny was also called upon to keep out a tricky, low bouncing shot from Rochemback before the break and Luke Young hit his sidenetting from distance.

On 43 minutes, Alves showed wonderful quickness of foot to beat three men and play a simple pass into the path of Young, who showed the composure of a full-back to side-foot his shot at Kenny's legs.

Boro's other first-half chance fell to Stewart Downing's right foot but it let him down when he got on the end of the best move of the game.

The England winger, watched by Stuart Pearce as he aims to return to the international fold, ran on to Rochemback's cheeky backheel but failed to hit the target as Kenny advanced.

Mark Schwarzer also had to deal with a couple of scares in the Boro goal and was fortunate James Beattie did not make contact with a Michael Tonge cross when he was way off his line, and that Seb Hines did not mark his 20th birthday with an own goal as he directed a Jon Stead centre over the bar.

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Both keepers could have sat out the second half and only one delightful run from Downing had the fans on their feet, although predictably his cross was cleared by Morgan.

It took the start of extra-time to wake Boro and they had two excellent opportunities to seal the meeting with Cardiff, whose manager David Jones and chairman Peter Ridsdale had long gone.

A Downing drive went narrowly wide before Kenny made a fine stop with his legs to keep out a low shot from the winger.

Even after the goal, with the visitors stretched, Adam Johnson and Tuncay had chances to grab a second — the latter embarrassingly failing to shoot when Kenny was out of his goal after going forward for a corner.

Kilgannon, meanwhile, was denied an equaliser within seconds when Pogatetz bravely blocked his shot with his chest.

QUARTER-FINAL DRAW

Middlesbrough v Cardiff City

Manchester Utd v Portsmouth

Bristol Rovers v West Brom

Barnsley v Chelsea

Ties to be played on March 8-9