Sub Stuani squeezes Boro through
THIS late victory was as nervy as Middlesbrough’s fight against relegation threatens to be in the coming months but their manager Aitor Karanka refuses to be intimated by the spectre of history and a charge on Wembley will continue to run parallel to their scrap for survival.
It was exactly 20 years ago that Bryan Robson’s side were relegated and lost in the final of both domestic cup competitions.
Boro needed the late intervention of substitute Cristhian Stuani to advance after League One Oxford recovered from two goals down to draw level.
Boro had been cruising at the break thanks to Grant Leadbitter’s spot-kick and Rudy Gestede’s strike.
But two goals inside 60 seconds from Chris Maguire and West Ham loanee Toni Martinez brought Oxford level.
It was, then, a cruel blow when, four minutes from time, Stuani poked in from close range to put Middlebrough into the last eight for the first time since 2008. MIDDLESBROUGH (4-2-3-1): Guzan 5; Chambers 5.5, Ayala 5.5, Bernando 5, Fabio 5.5; Leadbitter 7.5, Clayton 5.5; Traore 7 (Stuani 71min, 6.5), Downing 6.5, Fischer 6 (Ramirez 71, 5); Gestede 6 (Negredo 86). Booked: Negredo. OXFORD (4-4-1-1): Eastwood 6; Edwards 6, Nelson 6, Dunkley 6, Johnson 6; Hall 5.5, Lundstram 6.5, Ledson 6, Maguire 7; Martinez 6.5 (Sercombe 85); Hemmings 5.5 (McAleny 65, 5). Booked: Ledson. Referee: A Marriner 7.