League One side Rochdale travelled across Manchester for a League Cup Third Round derby against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Wednesday night and nearly caused an upset against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men.
It was a reasonably experienced United line-up, with the returning Paul Pogba in midfield and a couple of youngsters in the shape of defender Axel Tuanzebe and Mason Greenwood. They were keen to get back on track after the weekend’s defeat at West Ham, but again they struggled to open up the opposition and went in goalless at half time.
Mason Greenwood managed to break the deadlock in the 68th minute, assisted by Jesse Lingard, but it wasn’t enough as Rochdale struch back eight minutes later through Matheson. No further goals meant that the match went to the lottery of a penalty shoot out.
All five of United’s takers (Mata, Pereira, Fred, Greenwood and James) converted their kicks but Jimmy Keohane missed Rochdale’s second, meaning that it was United who went into the hat for the fourth round draw, where they were handed a trip to Chelsea.