Wayne Rooney laser incident to be investigated by FA after Manchester United striker targeted in loss to Middlesbrough

Rooney was one of three players who missed in their 3-1 penalty shootout defeat to Middlesbrough in the Capital One Cup fourth round

Wayne Rooney has a laser shone in his face before taking his penalty (Sky Sports 1)

Wayne Rooney was one of three English players to miss a penalty in the shootout defeat by Middlesbrough as Manchester United crashed out of the Capital One Cup fourth round on Wednesday night.

Rooney attempted to lead from the front and take the first penalty of the shootout with the scores locked at 0-0 after 120 minutes, but he saw his effort saved by Boro goalkeeper Tomas to continue his miserable run of form of late.

To make matters worse, both Michael Carrick and Ashley Young also missed from the spot to confirm United’s exit and give the Championship side a path through to the quarter-finals of the cup competition.

However, footage has emerged of a laser being shone in Rooney’s face just seconds before his penalty, and the United and England captain appeared to remonstrate with the linesman afterwards. He chose not to highlight the incident though, although the Football Association have confirmed that they are investigating the incident which occurred in front of the away end where around 10,000 Boro fans were sitting.

Van Gaal was more concerned with his strikers' inability to convert their chances during open play.

"When you are not finishing the chances - and they were very easy chances in front of the goal or in front of the goalkeeper - then it is very difficult to win a game because the goals are counting, not the chances,” said Van Gaal.

"I am so disappointed. We create so many chances in the second half and in extra-time and we couldn't finish.

"You have to finish. The goal is the most important thing in football and we didn't do it.

Penalties is a casino - you never know

&#13; <p>Louis van Gaal, Manchester United manager</p>&#13;

"You can say it is unlucky but that I have said already after the match against [Manchester] City also because that was also 0-0.

"You have to force the luck also, we didn't do that because we didn't score. That's why I'm disappointed.

"My players have given everything and that's why I am also proud of them because until the end they have done it. Penalties is a casino - you never know."

Van Gaal was keen to stress his unhappiness that referee Lee Mason did not award his side a penalty inside the 120 minutes, with United having three claims – including two after Boro defender Daniel Ayala appeared to handle the ball – turned down.

Wayne Rooney remonstrates with the assistant referee following Manchester United's Capital One Cup defeat to Middlesbrough (Getty Images)

Asked if he had anything to say on the penalty claims, Van Gaal answered: "No, you can decide for yourself.

"I think everybody has seen it and it wasn't once, it was three times."