By Chris
February 22 2014

Manchester United crashed out of the League Cup at the semi-final stage after a penalty shoot-out horror show against Sunderland at Old Trafford.

David Moyes' men missed four of their five spot-kicks as they were dumped out of the competition in miserable fashion.

Sunderland, who themselves missed three kicks, won the shoot-out 2-1. 

Only Darren Fletcher's spot-kick hit the net for United, with Danny Welbeck, Adnan Januzaj, Phil Jones and Rafael all delivering largely pitiful attempts from twelve yards. 

The game was decided from the penalty spot after United led 2-1 after extra-time, with the contest exploding into life in the closing moments of the additional thirty minutes.

Jonny Evans had given United the lead on 37 minutes, turning home a Danny Welbeck flick from close range. Having restored parity on aggregate, United knew they would be heading to Wembley if they could avoid conceding.

Moyes' men, however, lacked a creative spark and a well-organised, disciplined Sunderland side were impressive in defence and always looked in contention.

With the away goals rule not kicking in until after extra-time, Sunderland's big moment appeared to have arrived in the 119th minute. United were seconds from Wembley before ex-Red Phil Bardsley's low, long-range effort was pathetically spilled into his own net by David De Gea, sparking delight from the 9,000 travelling Mackems.

United responded instantly, however, displaying the sort of urgency that too often has been missing this season. Javier Hernandez turned home Januzaj's pass, and the stage was surely set for De Gea to gain instant redemption in the shoot-out.

MUFC's efforts from twelve yards, however, were hopeless. Welbeck and Jones sent their efforts waywardly off target, whilst Black Cats 'keeper Vito Mannoe denied Januzaj and Rafael as Sunderland sealed their place in February's showpiece final. 

A bitterly disappointing start to 2014 has seen United dumped out of both domestic cup competitions.  The manner of this penalty shoot-out reverse, and the importance a League Cup win would have played in offering resurgence to United's season, mean this was an absolute hammer blow for under-pressure Moyes.

Full Time - Manchester United 2-1 Sunderland (AET)
Sunderland win 2-1 on penalty kicks
Attendance - 71,019