Manchester United crashed out of the FA Cup with a 7-8 penalty shootout defeat to Championship side Middlesbrough following an incident-packed 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.

Anthony Elanga blasted the decisive penalty over the bar and into the Stretford End to spark wild celebrations among the 9,000 travelling fans after the two sides had converted 15 consecutive spot kicks in a high-quality shootout.

United dominated the game for long periods before that, attempting 30 shots to Middlesbrough’s six, but the tone was set for a wasteful performance when Cristiano Ronaldo dragged a 20th-minute penalty wide after a foul on the returning Paul Pogba.

Ralf Rangnick’s side did take the lead shortly after that missed spot kick, Jadon Sancho collecting a long pass from Bruno Fernandes and firing home via a deflection (25), but they spurned a glut of other opportunities and were made to pay by the resilient visitors.

Middlesbrough’s equaliser came in controversial circumstances when substitute Duncan Watmore miscontrolled a diagonal pass from Isaiah Jones inside the United box, causing the ball to bounce up onto his hand before he crossed for Matt Crooks to slide home from close range at the far post (64).

The goal would likely have been ruled out prior to this season, but VAR allowed it stand – despite furious United protests – in line with changes to the handball law brought in during the summer.

When trying to understand the decision to allow Middlesbrough’s equaliser to stand, it is important to refer to the changes to the handball law made at the start of the season.

In accordance with the new rules, Watmore wasn’t penalised for accidental handball because he did not score the goal himself.

For him to be penalised in that scenario, according to the new rules, it would need to be a deliberate handball, or his arm would need to be in an unnatural position. VAR deemed neither of those things to be true, hence the decision to allow the goal to stand.

Manchester United were understandably aggrieved by the decision but they had only themselves to blame for their profligacy.

Sancho struck the crossbar with goalkeeper Joe Lumley off his line in the second minute, but others missed far better chances.