The Times:
Middlesbrough finally found an answer to Cristiano Ronaldo's precocious brilliance last night, but it came too late and, in any case, it was the wrong answer. A challenge by James Morrison in the dying moments earned the substitute a red card and reflected the frustration that has built up among Gareth Southgate's players at Ronaldo's gamesmanship and showmanship over the course of the campaign, but as he has done all season, the Manchester United winger earned and enjoyed the last laugh.
The match ended amid recriminations, with Carlos Queiroz, the United assistant manager, having to be pulled away from Malcolm Crosby, his Middlesbrough counterpart, and Alex Smith, the kit man, who had appeared to accuse Ronaldo of cheating. As ever, though, the player at the centre of the controversy smiled and shrugged it off. "Maybe someone doesn't like me because maybe I'm too good," he said afterwards, having won and converted the 76th-minute penalty that sent United into a semi-final against Watford.
As arrogant as Ronaldo's remark appears, it rings true. He has been too good for the rest of English football this season and it was no different last night. This was not quite the virtuoso performance of Saturday, when he ripped Bolton Wanderers apart, but yet again, when United needed inspiration, it was the Portugal winger who provided it, getting behind Jonathan Woodgate and enticing a rash challenge from the England defender in the penalty area. Some Middlesbrough players complained that Ronaldo had dived, but unlike in their league meeting at the Riverside in December, television replays suggested otherwise.
Middlesbrough nevertheless felt aggrieved, even if it was primarily Ronaldo's high-stepping footwork that drew that reckless challenge from Morrison as the clock ticked down. "Yes, we did lose our discipline in the last five minutes of the game," Southgate, the visiting team's manager, said. "James is a young kid and he will learn a lesson from that. We all, in that situation, would love to do what he did [clatter Ronaldo]. But you have to be mature enough to hold your ground and make the tackle."
Southgate's empathy with Woodgate was impressive as Morrison was certain to rile Sir his defence kept United at arm's length for the long periods of the first half. Alex Ferguson, but the United manager had no doubt about who was in the right. "They're all going on, but it's a clear penalty kick," he said. "I think they've got a guilt complex with him. If it had been any other player involved, they wouldn't have reacted like that. There's a stigma on the boy, which isn't deserved. He's a phenomenal player.
The Telegraph:
Cristiano Ronaldo is perhaps the most divisive figure plying his trade in English football, but while the Portuguese winger yet again prompted fury and adulation with his latest penalty controversy against serial victims Middlesbrough, the 22-year-old showed just why he is the one man separating Manchester United from the rest by capping a stunning solo performance with the goal that sent Sir Alex Ferguson's team closer to a second Treble.
Although Jonathan Woodgate appeared to knock Ronaldo off balance with a clumsy challenge inside the six yard box, Middlesbrough reacted bitterly to referee Mike Dean's decision to point to he spot.
Substitute James Morrison was rightly dismissed for a brutal foul on Ronaldo in added time and the United assistant manager, Carlos Queiroz, and his Boro counterpart, Malcolm Crosby, were involved in a bout of animated finger-wagging on the touchline after the final whistle.
Boro's protests were misplaced. Ronaldo was clearly impeded by Woodgate and his successful penalty, which enabled United to equal Arsenal's record of reaching 25 FA Cup semi-finals, ensured a victory the Premiership leaders deserved.
Unsurprisingly, Woodgate, Julio Arca and Mark Viduka were all restored to the Boro team after missing the weekend Premiership defeat at home to Manchester City, and it was clear from the early stages that United were facing determined opponents. Despite the now almost routine brilliance of Ronaldo, Ferguson's players made heavy work of the first-half.
With the suspended Paul Scholes watching from the sidelines, United too often fell into the trap of playing the ball across the Boro back four in the first-half. Although their passing was slick and precise, they could only sporadically break beyond the 18-yard line and put pressure on Mark Schwarzer's goal.
Having seen numerous similar attacking forays fail to bear fruit, United opted for a more direct approach and the blistering acceleration of Ronaldo enabled him to pick up Nemanja Vidic's long pass from defence and dance past full-back Andrew Taylor into the six-yard box on 34 minutes.
Ronaldo should have taken the opportunity to test Schwarzer from close range, but he unselfishly pulled the ball back for Alan Smith. The former Leeds forward was foiled brilliantly, however, by his one-time Elland Road colleague Woodgate, who arrived from nowhere to intercept and snuff out the danger.
Woodgate was imperious at the heart of the Boro defence. Deft through balls were blocked and important headed clearances were made by the on-loan Real Madrid defender, but even his acute awareness failed to prevent Wayne Rooney from springing the offside trap to bear down on Schwarzer three minutes before the interval.
Rooney raced on to Ryan Giggs' pass and burst into the penalty area, but his decision to take the ball around Schwarzer rather than place it underneath the goalkeeper allowed the Australian the time to recover, and he dived low at Rooney's feet to smother the ball and deny the United striker.
Boro, by contrast, barely threatened and Rooney and Ronaldo continued to torment Southgate's team as United upped the tempo after the interval.
The Indie:
Abuse accompanies almost every step from Cristiano Ronaldo these days but there is venom in the voice of Middlesbrough that exceeds any World Cup wound. Three times they have crossed the Portuguese international this season and three times he has cost them from the penalty spot; it would be no surprise if the Boro chairman, Steve Gibson, himself attempted to pay for Manchester United's irrepressible star to return to Iberia this summer.
Controversy plagued the 22-year-old again last night but whatever the opinions on Ronaldo, and they were wildly contrasting from the opposing dug-outs, his mantle as the sole destroyer of Middlesbrough's FA Cup ambition is beyond dispute.
Having won a dubious spot-kick at the Riverside in December and converted the contentious award that took this quarter-final to a replay, he was back on familiar ground when tripped by Jonathan Woodgate with 15 minutes remaining at Old Trafford. Again he beat Mark Schwarzer from 12 yards and again he was labelled a cheat, although this time it was a scurrilous accusation without foundation as contact was clearly made as he closed in on goal.
The claim was allegedly shouted at Ronaldo by the Boro assistant manager, Malcolm Crosby, moments after the decisive penalty secured United a record-equalling 25th FA Cup semi-final appearance, and so incensed Crosby's opposite number, Carlos Queiroz, that he had to be restrained by Sir Alex Ferguson as he attempted to confront his compatriot's accuser after the final whistle. Given that the visiting substitute James Morrison was sent off for a lunge on Ronaldo in stoppage time and Wayne Rooney was close to receiving a second yellow card in the subsequent mêlée, the winger's contribution cannot be overstated.
And to think this was not even Ronaldo or United's finest display in this season's FA Cup. Initially the Portuguese international stood out from an impressive crowd as he began in the same destructive manner that had unravelled Bolton in the League on Saturday. At times he appeared the only telling threat United possessed, but in the second half Middlesbrough marshalled him well. Up to a point.
Woodgate made key interceptions from Rooney and Ronaldo, but this was not exclusively a rearguard action from Boro as Mark Viduka and Ayegbeni Yakubu showed the strength and quality to unnerve the United defence, with the Australian closest to opening the scoring in the 16th minute. As in the original tie on Teesside there was an increased urgency about Boro whenever Stewart Downing was brought into play, although the England international illustrated why he is more suited to assisting than finishing when he squandered a glorious chance from Viduka's cut-back in the 54th minute.
The Guardian:
Gareth Southgate labelled Cristiano Ronaldo a "diver" earlier this season but there could be no disputing the penalty that took Manchester United into the semi-finals last night and the Portuguese international could not resist the temptation to taunt Middlesbrough's manager in the process. Ronaldo was quickly over to the visitors' dugout to signal to Southgate that the goal was dedicated to him.
His 18th goal of the season tees up a semi-final against Watford on April 14 and keeps United on course for a potential treble of the Premiership, the FA Cup and the Champions League. Simultaneously, it confirms Ronaldo's place as Middlesbrough's bete noire after a season in which he has won two and scored two penalties against them and tormented them at every opportunity. Ronaldo, one suspects, enjoys the role of pantomime villain and he broke into a wicked smile when asked why controversy stuck to him like a magnet. "Maybe," he said, "they don't like me because I'm too good."
It was a wonderful piece of chutzpah from a player who clearly believes it is him, not Jose Mourinho, who should be regarded as the Special One. Yet Ronaldo's attempts to provoke Southgate brought something approaching anarchy to the night, with the visitors guilty of losing all sense of control.
James Morrison, a substitute, was shown a red card after deciding to take his own retribution and scything him down. Carlos Queiroz, United's assistant manager, had to be restrained after allegedly hearing shouts of "cheat" from the opposition bench and, at the final whistle, Sir Alex Ferguson had to restrain him from confronting Southgate, plus the assistant manager Malcolm Crosbie and kit-man Alex Smith, all of whom seemed willing to prolong the argument.
Queiroz usually plays the placid role in the good-cop-bad-cop routine with Ferguson but here the roles were reversed as United's manager found himself in the highly unusual position of peacemaker.
When the dust had settled the outcome was a record-equalling 25th FA Cup semi-final for the Premiership leaders and, of potentially huge significance in the title race, a postponement of their trip to Chelsea on April 15. The match will now be played on May 8, setting up the tantalising prospect that United, currently six points clear, can win the league at Stamford Bridge.
Eleven days later, barring a near-unimaginable shock result against Watford, United could renew hostilities with Chelsea in the first FA Cup final at the new Wembley. A season shot with potential danger for Ferguson is threatening to become a year to rival 1999.
Stats:
Man Utd: Kuszczak, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Heinze, Ronaldo, Carrick, Giggs, Richardson (Park 60), Smith (O'Shea 71), Rooney.
Subs Not Used: Heaton, Cathcart, Eagles.
Booked: Smith, Rooney.
Goals: Ronaldo 76 pen.
Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Xavier, Woodgate, Pogatetz, Taylor (Huth 88), Cattermole (Morrison 62), Boateng, Arca (Rochemback 69), Downing, Yakubu, Viduka.
Subs Not Used: Jones, Lee.
Sent Off: Morrison (90).
Booked: Xavier, Woodgate, Pogatetz, Boateng, Rochemback.
Att: 71,325
Ref: M Dean (Wirral).