Controversial VAR Decision Denies Rasmus Hojlund’s First Goal for Manchester United
During Manchester United’s 3-1 defeat against Brighton at Old Trafford, Rasmus Hojlund thought he had scored his first goal for the club on the brink of half-time. However, the Dane’s goal was disallowed after a lengthy VAR check.
After Brighton had taken the lead with a brilliant finish by Danny Welbeck in the 20th minute, Manchester United appeared to have found the equalizer just before half-time through Hojlund’s right-footed strike. The home fans erupted in celebration, but their joy was short-lived.
A painstaking VAR review revealed that Marcus Rashford may have taken the ball out of play just before Hojlund’s shot, and the cameras confirmed this. Although the VAR angle was not ideal, it ultimately led to the goal being ruled out.
Former Premier League referee Mike Dean offered his perspective on the incident, stating, “Yeah, it is the correct decision, but it is very tight. I can understand why the assistant hasn’t seen it, and it took a lot of frames to decide this, but VAR got it right.”
United expressed frustration over the decision, and Hojlund, who displayed energy but struggled to create significant chances, was equally disappointed as he faced a well-organized Brighton defense.
Pundit Michael Dawson, a former Tottenham defender, also weighed in on the controversy, saying, “It does look like it goes out if my eyes are correct. It looks like the ball has just gone over the line, and it appeared to be the correct decision.”
The frustration continued for United throughout the match, and their defensive woes once again proved costly. The pressure is mounting on Manchester United and manager Erik ten Hag as they prepare to face Bayern Munich on Wednesday night.
