Manchester United pays the penalty in Cup semifinal

Manchester United manager David Moyes accepted his side deserved nothing more after it was unceremoniouly bounced out of the League Cup in the semifinals by Premier League straggler Sunderland.

Moyes was hoping to reach his first final as United manager, but after United beat Sunderland 2-1 at Old Trafford in Wednesday's second-leg match to leave the aggregate score 3-3, the visiting side prevailed 2-1 in a penalty shootout.

United was up 1-0 on the night and within touching distance of the final when goalkeeper David de Gea allowed a shot from Sunderland fullback Phil Bardsley to squirm past him and into the net in the penultimate minute of extra time.

Javier Hernandez scrambled an equalizer almost immediately in a stunning conclusion to the extra period, but United was eliminated when Vito Mannone parried Rafael da Silva's penalty in the ensuing shootout.

Jonny Evans's first-half header had leveled the tie, but United was unable to seize the momentum thereafter, with Sunderland enjoying the majority of possession.

"We didn't play well enough. If we were (to go through), we were going to stumble over the line," Moyes said.

"With a minute or so to go we were almost there. We had opportunities to score a second goal and put ourselves in a better position, but there is always going to be a loser in the semi-final and it was us."

United has already lost five times at home this season and has now been eliminated from cup competitions at Old Trafford twice in less than three weeks, having fallen to Swansea City in the FA Cup on Jan 5.

Once again there was a palpable nervousness inside the stadium, and when Moyes was asked whether the result was the heaviest blow of his nascent United tenure, he said: "Yeah. I think it is part and parcel of the game".

Sunderland players celebrate after winning the penalty shootout against Manchester United in their English League Cup semifinal second leg match at Old Trafford on Wednesday. Nigel Roddis / Reuters