Manchester United will lock horns with Championship side Middlesbrough in the FA Cup for the first time since March 2007 when the two sides meet at Old Trafford this evening.
United, who have faced the Teesside club a further nine times since that meeting, got the better of them, winning 1-0 in a quarter-final replay at Old Trafford, after being held to a 2-2 draw just over a week earlier.
A 76th minute penalty from 22-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo was enough to seal United's passage to the semi-finals, booking a date with Watford at Villa Park, which Sir Alex Ferguson's side went onto win 4-1.
Against Boro, United got the job done thanks to Ronaldo going down under a challenge from defender Jonathan Woodgate. Despite the Reds being awarded a penalty, Boro, who were under the stewardship of Gareth Southgate at the time, were furious, insisting Ronaldo had dived.
But despite their frustrations, Ronaldo played down the coming together in his post-match TV interview, insisting it was a penalty, in what has proven to be an iconic interview in the Portuguese star's career.
"I don't know why, every time it's against Middlesbrough," said Ronaldo, as quoted by the Daily Star, speaking back in 2007.
"For me, it's a penalty. Maybe someone doesn't like me because I'm too good?
"Of course I felt the contact, this is why I slipped. He touched me. If you touch me, I lose my balance and this is why I go down.
"When some teams lose they have something to say. I think the win is fair, Manchester played better."
That season, United reached the final of the competition, but were beaten 1-0 by Chelsea, courtesy of an extra time winner from Didier Drogba.
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