Middlesbrough have poked fun at Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo following their FA Cup fourth-round win at Old Trafford on Friday evening.
The Championship side pulled off a memorable upset to progress to the fifth round of the competition, winning 8-7 on penalties, following a 1-1 stalemate at the end of 120 minutes.
Leading 8-7 as United star Anthony Elanga placed the ball on the spot in hope of keeping the Reds in the tie, Middlesbrough, moments later, were celebrating a famous win after the Swede fired his effort high and over the bar.
It marked Boro’s second consecutive cup victory at Old Trafford following on from their League Cup triumph back in October 2015.
Ahead of Friday evening’s contest, Middlesbrough centre-back Dael Fry admitted that he was relishing the prospect of facing Ronaldo, revealing that it would be special just to be stood so close to him. He also revealed what he would say to him if he got close enough.
Speaking earlier this week, Fry, as quoted by TeessideLive, said: “I am looking forward to going to Old Trafford and playing against probably one of the best to ever play the game in Ronaldo.
“I’ve thought about it quite a lot, to be honest. I’ve thought about just kind of being stood near him and going, ‘Alright mate’, and see what he says.
“But even just to be stood that close to him will be crazy, but hopefully we can do a job on him as well.”
Do a job on him Middlesbrough did.
Ronaldo, despite getting the chance to fire United into an early lead from the penalty spot, was unable to find a way past goalkeeper Joe Lumley and, indeed, Fry in normal time, meaning his hopes of winning a trophy in his first season back at Old Trafford now rest on their Champions League ambitions.
With Fry having revealed earlier this week that he planned to speak to Ronaldo, Middlesbrough, in the aftermath of their victory, have taken to social media to light-heartedly joke about Fry’s comments and tie them in with their win.
Sharing a photograph of Fry stood in close proximity to Ronaldo, they tweeted: “Alright mate,” referencing what Fry had said earlier in the week.
Ronaldo scored his effort in the penalty shoot-out that followed extra time, but, of course, it was not enough to stop United from being knocked out of the competition at the earliest stage since 2014.
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