Boro Lucky: Scrape into Last Eight of FA Cup

A freakish extra-time winner sent Middlesbrough into the last eight of the FA Cup with a 1-0 win over Sheffield United here on Wednesday. Boro had marginally shaded an uninspiring contest on points but it still took a bizarre own goal by Sheffield Utd goalkeeper Paddy Kenny to separate the two sides.

With penalties looming in the second period of extra time, Boro's Egyptian striker Mido fired in a shot that took a deflection off Chris Morgan and looped over Kenny and onto the post.The ball bounced straight back towards the goalkeeper who, caught unawares, contrived to fumble it over his own line, effectively handing Boro a quarter-final home tie against another Championship outfit, Cardiff.

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate handed striker Afonso Alves his first start since his 12.7-million-pound capture in the January transfer window and it was a promising full debut from the Brazilian.

As early as the ninth minute, his clever turn forced defender Derek Geary to concede a free-kick and it took a fine block by Morgan to prevent him firing Boro into the lead soon afterwards. The visitors best early chance fell to former England striker James Beattie, who fluffed his volley straight at goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer after being found by Gary Naysmith's cross.

Another good block by Morgan denied Alves early in the second half and the Brazilian came close to scoring his first goal in Boro on 65 minutes after being fed by Julio Arca.Cutting inside, Alves unleashed a low right-foot shot which Kenny did well to hold.

The Brazilian was denied once more by a superb challenge from Kilgallon but his lack of a goal did not prevent him from being warmly cheered when he departed with just over a quarter of an hour left.

Boro had enjoyed the better of the first 90 minutes but it was their Championship opponents who finished stronger. After almost finding Rob Hulse with a knockdown four minutes from the end, Beattie could have won the tie in the final minute of regulation time but failed to hit the target after being found by Welsh veteran midfielder Gary Speed's ball into the near post.(Source: Yahoo/AFP)