From bad to worse for Moyes
Trailing 2-1 from the first leg at the Stadium of Light, United got themselves in front on the night thanks to a goal from Jonny Evans seven minutes before the interval.
With away goals only counting at the end of extra-time, the hosts sweated all the way through another half an hour before David de Gea’s error allowed Phil Bardsley’s effort into the corner with a minute and a half left.
But Javier Hernandez’s strike in added time in injury time sent the match to penalties.
Craig Gardner and Steven Fletcher missed Sunderland’s first two spot-kicks, with Danny Welbeck missing United’s first and Adnan Januzaj missed the hosts’ third for Ki Sung-Yeung to even it up.
Phil Jones missed to allow Adam Johnson the chance to win it, only for the England winger to have his penalty saved, but Vito Mannone saved from Rafael to send United out.
As David Moyes, who is set to announce the imminent club record signing of Juan Mata from Chelsea in a €45 million deal, chases his first ever piece of silverware, here was another miserable night to follow four defeats in five matches.
But so confident were City supporters of inflicting an embarrassing defeat on their rivals at Wembley, what appeared to be the majority of Blues in Manchester actually wanted United to find a way past Gus Poyet’s side.
It says much for United’s current situation that they did not do more in three and a half hours against a team 19th in the Premier League and they were once again left to rely on youngster Januzaj.
Sunderland goalkeeper Mannone, will endure busier matches, was forced into a low save after Javier Hernandez got his head to an Adnan Januzaj free-kick early on but the visitors looked comfortable.
Ki Sung-Yeung drove wide from distance and John O’Shea headed wide from a free-kick from the South Korean as the visitors, other than Marcos Alonso who struggled against Januzaj, kept the ball for long periods.
One such spell of possession ended with what looked like a wild ball upfield from Adam Johnson but Fabio Borini won it ahead of Rafael and shot just over from the edge of the area when he might have taken another touch.
Hopeful efforts from Alexander Buttner and Danny Welbeck hinted at the increasing anxiety of the hosts but a tactical switch from Moyes, moving Shinji Kagawa infield and pushing Welbeck left, immediately paid off.
Kagawa clipped a cross to the far post and Darren Fletcher’s header came back off the post before Welbeck’s rebound was pushed away as the hosts finally threatened in the final 10 minutes of the half.
Although replays showed Kagawa had the last touch, the corner that followed from Januzaj was helped on by Welbeck for Evans, played onside by Borini, to touch in at the far post.
After the break, Januzaj drove over from a free kick before Rafael also lifted a shot over the bar after drifting in from the right.
But Sunderland never looked short of confidence and Johnson thumped wide at the near post after a heavy spell of pressure for the visitors.
United were grateful to Buttner for the Dutchman throwing himself at Johnson’s shot from a Borini cross to turn the Sunderland winger’s effort wide of goal before Alonso thumped just past the post from the left flank.
Januzaj’s free-kick was held by Mannone to ensure the two teams needed another half an hour.
Michael Carrick limped off shortly after the start of extra-time, just before Sunderland’s Craig Gardner bent a free-kick just past the top corner before Phil Bardsley missed with a skidding left-footed strike.
Hernandez missed a fine chance at the end of the first period of extra-time when he was sent through by fine play by Januzaj only to curl wide.
Januzaj’s effort was held by Mannone as United broke out before Steven Fletcher headed wide from Johnson’s free-kick.
There was a second of silence as Bardsley’s drilled cross flew along the six-yard line with no Sunderland player getting a touch.
With a minute and a half remaining, De Gea allowed Bardsley’s shot to squirm in to surely send the visitors through.
But, as De Gea shook his head at his mistake, United responded immediately and Januzaj’s cross was allowed all the way across the area for Hernandez to stab in. It would be only a temporary relief for United though.
MANCHESTER UNITED (4-4-2): De Gea 6; Rafael 7, Smalling 6, Evans 7, Buttner 6 (Evra 84, 7); Januzaj 8, D Fletcher 7, Carrick 7 (Jones 95, 6), Kagawa 7 (Valencia 61, 6); Welbeck 6, Hernandez 6.
SUNDERLAND (4-1-4-1): Mannone 7; Bardsley 7, Brown 7, O’Shea 7, Alonso 5; Cattermole 7 (Gardner 82, 6); Johnson 7, Ki 8, Colback 6, Borini 5 (Altidore 86, 6); S Fletcher 6.
Referee: Lee Mason.
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