Manchester United faced heartbreak in their match against Brighton, suffering a 2-1 defeat after what seemed like a legitimate second goal was controversially ruled out.
United had thought they took the lead 2-1 in the 70th minute when Alejandro Garnacho arrived at the back post to tap in a cross from Bruno Fernandes. Garnacho, who had come off the bench for the second time in a week, celebrated with his teammates, believing he had secured the crucial goal.
However, there was confusion and uncertainty as the goal came under scrutiny. The ball had made contact with fellow substitute Joshua Zirkzee, raising the question of whether the Dutchman had touched it before it crossed the line.
The slow-motion replays revealed that Zirkzee’s knee was only just over the line, by the slimmest of margins. Additionally, he was marginally ahead of Garnacho when the ball was struck, leading the VAR to adjudge him to be offside. As a result, the goal was disallowed, much to the dismay of United players and fans alike.
The Premier League later provided clarification on the decision through their Match Centre Twitter account. They explained that the goal was initially awarded on the field but was reviewed for a potential offside against Zirkzee.
The VAR check confirmed that Zirkzee was offside, and the goal was disallowed, with play restarting with a Brighton free-kick.
Earlier in the match, United had fallen behind in the first half when former United striker Danny Welbeck scored his 100th career goal, putting Brighton ahead. United managed to equalize through Amad Diallo, who was making his first Premier League start of the season. However, the late drama with the disallowed goal was only the beginning of United’s misfortune.
Brighton capitalized on United’s disappointment, with Joao Pedro left unmarked in the penalty area from a Brighton cross. He took full advantage, heading the ball into the bottom left corner beyond United goalkeeper Andre Onana. With little time left on the clock, United could not recover, and the match ended in a 2-1 defeat for Erik ten Hag’s side.
This loss marked United’s first Premier League defeat of the season, and the circumstances surrounding the disallowed goal added to the sense of frustration and disappointment for the team and its supporters. The match at the Amex Stadium left United with much to ponder as they look to bounce back in their next fixture.
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