Man Utd 1 Rochdale 1 (pens 5-3): United avoid humiliation in shootout to sneak past League One Rochdale
MANCHESTER UNITED avoided one of the greatest upsets of all time to sneak past minnows Rochdale in the Carabao Cup.
In the end Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's under-performers needed a penalty shoot-out after the two sides drew 1-1 after 90 minutes.
United scored all five of their penalties from Juan Mata, Andreas Pereira, Fred, Mason Greenwood and Dan James.
Jimmy Keohane was the unlucky one for the League One side to see his spot-kick saved by United No2 Sergio Romero.
Calvin Andrew, Aaron Morley and veteran Aaron Wilbraham did their bit to score - but their efforts proved in vain.
But the game will be forever remembered by 16-year-old Luke Matheson.
The defender is Dale's youngest ever starter - and incredibly he scored to level things at 1-1 in the second half.
He is rumoured to be on the shortlist of a host of higher-league clubs - and their pursuit should step up a notch after his stunning performance.
Mason Greenwood had finally given United the lead in the 68th minute after brave resistance from the minnows.
It was only two months ago that Matheson was celebrating his GCSE results.
SCHOOLBOY STUFF
Last night the teenager was punching the air for very different reasons.
One day you are celebrating the equivalent of a double A star, four A stars, three As a B and a C.
The next you are scoring at Old Trafford.
Few 16-year-olds can boast a summer quite like that.
The Manchester schoolboy’s incredible moment came in the 68th minute when he bounced a shot off the ground and into the roof of the Old Trafford net.
It was a goal that took the League One side into extra time after Greenwood had fired United ahead after 52 minutes.
It had all started as a special night for centre-back Axel Tuanzebe who captained the club for the first time in only his 11th appearance.
The Rochdale-born 21-year-old had previously captained at every level in United’s Academy.
It made him the youngest captain since Norman Whiteside wore the armband as a 25-year-old in 1985.
Having said that you have to wonder what Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard or Phil Jones thought about.
Solskjaer emphasised in his programme notes how this competition in 2006 provided a springboard during a relatively barren time for United to go again during a period of transition.
Within two years they were European Champions, fair to say that is this current side repeated that feat it would be a near miracle.
There is no Wayne Rooney of Cristiano Ronaldo in these shirts anymore.
Indeed you wonder who is going to be a real star going forward.
Pogba certainly looks the part, sporting another in a long range of dyed haircuts. This one with a red flash.
Unfortunately that star quality does not transfer to the pitch for United once the first whistle goes.
In his defence you have to wonder at least sometimes whether the lack of quality around him make the Frenchman look bad.
For example last night he played two through balls and one cross to the far post that brought sarcastic cheers from the away fans.
They looked over hit. Or was it not that he was putting the ball in the right areas but players like Tahith Chong on the left flank could not read them.
There was no defence when he headed over the bar after making a good run to meet Mason Greenwood’s 34th minute cross.
Or when he blasted miles over the bar with long range efforts, he always does when he goes for the spectacular.
It never seemed to happen when he was in a Juventus shirt as a quick look on YouTube will tell you.
Mind you he was a completely different player then, in a very different team.
This was one who couldn’t muster a goal in the first half against a side beaten 2-0 by Manchester City’s under-21 team a fortnight ago in the EFL Trophy.
They had virtually all the play but Rochdale were superb at the back and goalkeeper Robert Sanchez made good saves from Andreas Pereira and Greenwood.
Indeed United would have a massive scare in the 52nd minute and needed some heroics on the line from Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Rochdale worked the ball forward with former United Academy player Oliver Rathbone wriggling his way to the byline just by the near post.
He pulled the ball back for Callum Camps three yards out but with the goal gaping he fired his shot too near Wan-Bissaka on the line and he blocked it.
What a chance!
Greenwood finished off a good move for his goal as United worked the ball across the top of the box through three players before it ended at his feet
The benefit of being so superbly two footed was evident again as it had been with his goal against Astana in the Europa league.
Controlling the ball with his right foot he quickly moved it onto his left to get that bit of space he needed to bury a low shot.
But Rochdale were not finished as they sent their 6,000 travelling fans and half the directors box were in raptures.
Oliver Rathbone hooked the ball high across the box and Matheson was quickest onto it bouncing a shot into the ground which Tuanzebe on the line could not stop heading the ball into the roof of the net.
But in the end it was the dreaded spot-kicks to separate the two teams - with United holding their nerve to make the fourth round.