Martinez's unseen Ronaldo challenge before Fernandes' penalty miss

Emiliano Martinez's mind games were in full swing as Manchester United waited to take a potentially match-saving penalty against Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon.

The Red Devils were awarded a spot kick during the dying seconds at Old Trafford, a gilt-edged chance to equalise after Kortney Hause headed Villa in front minutes earlier.

Cristiano Ronaldo took United's previous penalty but his fellow Portugal international Bruno Fernandes was handed the ball and a chance to rescue a point.

The 27-year-old is usually ice-cool from 12 yards but blazed his effort high over the bar, raising questions of whether Martinez's tricks got the better of him.

Emiliano Martinez threw down the gauntlet to Cristiano Ronaldo after the penalty was awarded ( Image:

Peter Powell/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

In the moments leading up to the penalty, Martinez could be seen pointing at Ronaldo and he is believed to have thrown down the gauntlet to the five-time Ballon d'Or winner by saying: "Come and kick it!"

United players Fred, Diogo Dalot and Edinson Cavani tried to stop the goalkeeper's antics by pushing him away from Fernandes and Ronaldo.

But perhaps the damage had already been done, with the playmaker going on to smash his effort over, prompting Martinez to taunt the home fans.

The shot-stopper has a history of trying to put penalty takers off and successfully goaded Colombia's Yerry Mina into missing his effort during a Copa America shootout this summer.

Mina had converted in a shootout with Uruguay in the previous round and celebrated by dancing.

As the Everton defender stepped up against Martinez in the semi-final showdown, the Argentina star said: "You're laughing, but you're nervous. I know you already, fool. I know you. Look out, I'm gonna eat you alive. I'm gonna eat you alive."

Did Emiliano Martinez behave fairly before Bruno Fernandes' penalty? Have your say in the comments.

Martinez backed up his bold taunting by saving Mina's penalty and declared: "Dance now! Dance now!"

Meanwhile, Solskjaer voiced his fury over Martinez's behaviour before Fernandes took his penalty, although he insisted the No.18 was not fazed by the Argentine.

"The way they get round the penalty spot, get round Bruno, that's not to my liking," said Solskjaer after the match. "I understand it, Bruno's normally very good in those positions but unfortunately missed this one. They didn't get into Bruno's head. He's very strong mentally. He'll step forward again."

Former Tottenham Hotspur and Villa manager Tim Sherwood agreed Martinez did not cause Fernandes to miss, instead pointing the finger at Ronaldo's intimidating presence.

"Listen. I've never ever seen him blast the ball over the crossbar," Sherwood told Sky Sports. "He always waits for the keeper to go down and rolls it into the other corner.

"It's the pressure of someone else. The main man is here (Ronaldo). It's distorted his thinking. He knows he's got one chance and one chance only. And we've just seen it go by."