Wayne Rooney’s stoppage-time penalty spared Manchester United from an embarrassing goalless draw as they edged third-tier Sheffield United 1-0 in the FA Cup third round on Saturday.
Holders Arsenal had little trouble reaching round four, but United looked destined for an unwanted replay until Rooney struck in the 93rd minute after a foul on substitute Memphis Depay.
It was only the second shot on target that United had mustered, against a team 47 places below them in the English league system, and it is unlikely to save manager Louis van Gaal from criticism.
United’s fans made their feelings plain with mocking applause whenever their team registered an effort at goal and Van Gaal was being loudly goaded by Sheffield United’s fans until the late drama.
His side seemed to have turned a corner last weekend when they beat Swansea City 2-1 to end an eight-game winless run, but they looked desperately short of ideas on their return to Old Trafford.
It took them 69 minutes to hit the target, Matteo Darmian shooting tamely at George Long, but with injury time ebbing away, Dean Hammond was penalised for lunging in on Depay.
The United winger reacted with an exaggerated dive, but there had been contact and Rooney made no mistake by sending Long the wrong way from the spot.
Elsewhere, Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud scored as Arsenal started their FA Cup defence by coming from behind to defeat Sunderland 3-1.
Sunderland took a 17th-minute lead at the Emirates Stadium through Jeremain Lens, but Joel Campbell equalised eight minutes later before second-half goals by Ramsey and Giroud gave Arsene Wenger’s men victory.
“It was a test for us to come from behind. There was a great mental response and there is a special solidarity in the team,” said Wenger, who has never lost a third-round tie. “I am very happy overall.”
