Manchester United experienced a devastating setback in their clash with Brighton, succumbing to a 2-1 loss after a seemingly valid second goal was controversially disallowed, deepening their woes in the match.
The pivotal moment came in the 70th minute when United believed they had taken the lead, 2-1, through substitute Alejandro Garnacho. The young Argentine, who had entered the game off the bench for the second consecutive match, was in the right place at the right time to slot home a cross from Bruno Fernandes at the back post. Garnacho and his teammates celebrated what they thought was a crucial goal, one that could have swung the match in their favor.
However, the joy was short-lived as confusion and uncertainty quickly surrounded the goal. The incident was subjected to a thorough review, with particular focus on whether Joshua Zirkzee, another substitute, had interfered with play before the ball crossed the line. The replays, analyzed in slow motion, indicated that Zirkzee’s knee was just over the line—by the narrowest of margins. Furthermore, he appeared to be slightly ahead of Garnacho when the ball was played, prompting the VAR officials to investigate the possibility of an offside.
After a tense wait, the decision came in: Zirkzee was deemed offside, and as a result, Garnacho’s goal was ruled out. The disallowed goal led to visible frustration among the United players and their supporters, who felt hard done by the tight decision.
The Premier League later addressed the controversial decision through their Match Centre Twitter account. They clarified that while the goal was initially awarded on the pitch, it was subsequently reviewed for offside against Zirkzee. The VAR confirmed that the Dutchman was indeed offside at the moment the ball was played, leading to the goal being disallowed and play restarting with a Brighton free-kick.
Earlier in the match, United had already found themselves trailing when former player Danny Welbeck struck in the first half, netting his 100th career goal to give Brighton the lead. United managed to claw their way back into the game, equalizing through Amad Diallo, who was making his first Premier League start of the season. Diallo’s goal gave United hope, but the drama surrounding the disallowed goal would prove to be the turning point.
Following the disallowed goal, Brighton capitalized on United’s disappointment. Joao Pedro was left unmarked in the penalty area and made no mistake, heading the ball into the bottom left corner past United’s goalkeeper, Andre Onana. With only minutes left on the clock, United struggled to muster a response, and the match concluded with a 2-1 defeat for Erik ten Hag’s side.
This loss not only marked United’s first Premier League defeat of the season but also left the team and their fans reeling from the contentious circumstances surrounding the disallowed goal. The match at the Amex Stadium underscored the challenges facing United as they seek to regroup and bounce back in their upcoming fixtures.