Ronaldo books Man Utd's semi spot

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MANCHESTER, England -- Cristiano Ronaldo's second half penalty was enough to secure Manchester United a single-goal victory over Middlesbrough in their FA Cup quarterfinal replay.

Alex Ferguson's side now face a semifinal clash with Watford after the Portugese winger claimed his 18th goal of an outstanding season.

Ronaldo has been United's stand-out player in recent weeks and it was his late penalty that had kept his side in the competition when the two sides played out a 2-2 draw nine days previously.

Then with Ferguson's side struggling to match their recent form against a determined Boro, the 22-year-old forced a careless lunge from Jonathan Woodgate to earn the 76th minute spot-kick he duly placed beyond keeper Marl Schwarzer.

Then in the dying seconds of the game, Ronaldo's torment of the frustrated visitors was complete when he was hacked down by James Morrison earning the Boro substitute a straight red card.

Morrison's ugly lunge sparked a confrontation between both sets of players and assistant managers Carlos Queiroz and Malcolm Crosby exchanged angry words after the final whistle.

Prior to Ronaldo's match-winning intervention, United had looked a pale shadow of the side that harbours hopes of repeating their treble of 1999.

Surprisingly it was England striker Wayne Rooney who was responsible for ensuring Ferguson's side endured an uncomfortable night with two glaring misses after being sent clear on Schwarzer's goal.

Gareth Southgate's move to rest three key players - Mark Viduka, Julio Arca and Jonathan Woodgate - for the weekend defeat to Manchester City had provoked an angry response from Neil Warnock, manager of City's relegation rivals Sheffield United.

Energetic approach

Southgate admitted the decision had been taken with this fixture in mind and initially appeared to be justified as Boro's energetic approach unsettled the home side.

With Paul Scholes serving the final game of a three-match suspension, Ryan Giggs slotted in alongside Michael Carrick in central midfield but the makeshift pairing at first struggled to match the more upbeat display Arca and George Boateng.

And when Mark Viduka wastefully pulled a good opportunity wide when free on the edge of the United area, the visitors appeared capable of ending the home side's hopes of maintaining an interest on three fronts.

Slowly United made their presence felt with Cristiano Ronaldo once again the main focal point for their more impressive move.

For once, though, the Portugese winger lacked his usual cutting edge and was guilty of over-elaborating after working his way into the Boro box in the 34th minute, allowing Woodgate to clear from the toe of the lurking Alan Smith.

And the sense that United were not at their ruthless grew when Rooney wasted the first of two good chances when he allowed Schwarzer to snuff out the opportunity.

But fears that the home side would pay for their sloppy finishing were eased when Boro's Stewart Downing missed a good 55th minute chance before Ronaldo's late intervention eased home nerves.

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