Manchester United were left frustrated during their Premier League trip to the London Stadium after seeing what appeared to be a crucial equalizing goal chalked off, following a VAR intervention that ruled Casemiro offside in the buildup.
The match itself had struggled to ignite in the opening stages, with both sides canceling each other out through a cagey, low-tempo first half.
Chances were scarce, midfield battles dominated proceedings, and neither goalkeeper was seriously tested before the interval.
While United enjoyed spells of possession, they found it difficult to break through West Ham’s disciplined defensive shape, while the hosts were content to remain compact and strike on the counter when opportunities arose.
The contest finally sparked into life shortly after the restart. West Ham emerged from the dressing room with greater urgency and were rewarded for their aggression when Tomáš Souček opened the scoring.
The Czech midfielder capitalized on a moment of uncertainty in United’s defensive organization, finishing decisively to give the home side a 1–0 advantage and inject belief into the crowd.
Stung by going behind, Manchester United began to push forward with more intent. Their response appeared to pay off roughly 13 minutes later when Kobbie Mainoo delivered a teasing cross into the penalty area.
Casemiro rose highest and powered a header beyond the West Ham goalkeeper, prompting celebrations from United players and fans alike who believed parity had been restored.
However, those celebrations were short-lived. VAR quickly intervened to review the goal, scrutinizing Casemiro’s positioning at the moment Mainoo played the ball.
After a detailed check, replays showed that the Brazilian midfielder had strayed just beyond the last defender, placing him marginally in an offside position.
The referee was advised to overturn the on-field decision, and the goal was subsequently ruled out, much to United’s dismay.
The Premier League later confirmed the decision via its official social media channels, stating that VAR had reviewed the incident and determined Casemiro was offside when the cross was delivered.
While the margin was slim, the ruling adhered strictly to the laws of the game, leaving United to rue a moment that could have dramatically shifted the momentum of the match.
The disallowed goal proved to be a significant turning point in the contest. United continued to press in search of an equalizer, but frustration began to creep into their play as West Ham grew in confidence and defended their lead resolutely.
Coming into the fixture, United had been full of confidence after putting together an impressive run of four consecutive victories against Manchester City, Arsenal, Fulham, and Tottenham.
That momentum suggested they were capable of grinding out another positive result.
However, they were met by a West Ham side also enjoying a strong spell under manager Nuno Espírito Santo, making the challenge far from straightforward.
In the end, the overturned goal stood as a defining moment—one that highlighted the fine margins at the highest level and left Manchester United feeling hard done by as they battled against both a resilient opponent and the unforgiving precision of VAR.
