Middlesbrough

v

Manchester United

Cattermole 45, Boateng 47

Rooney 23, Ronaldo (pen) 68  

The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON
Sixth Round Proper
5.30pm, Saturday 10 March 2007
Riverside Stadium
Live on BBC1
Winning clubs will receive £300,000 from The FA
Each televised club will receive £265,000 from The FA

Manchester United kept alive their hopes of a treble though they have to face a reply at Old Trafford after being held at the Riverside in what proved to be a thrilling draw.

Stewart Downing had a glorious chance to give 'Boro the lead in just the seventh minute, though Tomasz Kuszczak did well to block the shot which seemed certain to put the home side in front.

However, United began to exert control on the game and took the lead midway through the first half when Ryan Giggs fed the ball to Rooney. In space, he cut inside the defender before placing a low shot past the helpless Mark Schwarzer for his 13th goal of the season.

Yakubu nearly brought 'Boro back on level terms holding off Rio Ferdinand from a Mark Viduka flick-on, which saw Kuszczak pull off a fine stop.

Giggs then came within inches of doubling the lead but his volley clipped the outside of the far post.

That miss proved costly as, on the stoke of half time, a defensive mix-up between Ferdinand and Kuszczak saw Julio Arca head the ball back into the box, where Lee Cattermole showed a great touch before volleying the ball cleanly into the back of the net.

It got even better for Gareth Southgate’s side within two minutes of the restart when captain George Boateng was left unmarked to head home Downing’s corner and turn the tie on its head.

Rooney then went down in the box, claiming he had been pushed though referee Rob Styles waved play on.

However, he pointed to the spot with just over 20 minutes left when he adjudged Boateng to have deliberately handled in the box. Ronaldo stepped up and coolly converted past Schwarzer.

Both sides came close to the winner in a pulsating last ten minutes, although neither could force the breakthrough which means they have to meet up for the replay on Monday week.

Middlesbrough
Schwarzer, Parnaby, Woodgate, Pogatetz, Taylor, Cattermole (Morrison 80), Boateng (Euell 89), Arca, Downing, Yakubu, Viduka (Lee 89).
Subs Not Used: Jones, Xavier.

Manchester United
Kuszczak, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Heinze, Ronaldo, O'Shea, Carrick, Giggs, Rooney, Larsson.
Subs Not Used: Brown, Park, Smith, Richardson, Eagles.

Attendance: 33,308

Referee: R Styles