In Manchester United’s thrilling 2-1 victory over Manchester City on Sunday, VAR was called into action to review a key incident in the second half, which sparked debate and controversy. The win, which was vital for United’s aspirations, was inspired by Amad Diallo’s stunning performance in the No.10 role. His influence on the game was immense, especially after manager Ruben Amorim made the bold decision to leave both Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho out of the starting lineup. Amorim’s gamble paid off as Diallo delivered a match-winning performance, playing a pivotal role in both of United’s goals.
The First Penalty: The first penalty of the game was awarded to Manchester United after Amad Diallo intercepted a sloppy back pass from City’s Matheus Nunes. Nunes, attempting to recover, fouled Diallo inside the penalty area. Referee Anthony Taylor had no hesitation in awarding the spot-kick, with Nunes showing little protest. Bruno Fernandes confidently converted the penalty to draw United level, 1-1.
The Controversial Incident: However, the game also featured another significant penalty appeal from United, this time for a challenge on Rasmus Højlund. The incident occurred just after the hour mark when Højlund chased a ball into the box and went down following a challenge from Manchester City’s Ruben Dias. Højlund appeared to be impeded by Dias, who stretched his leg into Højlund’s path without making contact with the ball. Replays showed that Dias was late and made no attempt to play the ball, with his challenge clearly obstructing Højlund’s progress.
Gary Neville, the former Manchester United captain, described the challenge as “clumsy” and suggested that Dias “gets nowhere near the ball,” which would typically be considered a foul in the penalty area. Despite the clear contact from Dias on Højlund, referee Taylor waved away the penalty appeal, and VAR quickly reviewed the incident.
VAR’s Role and Official Explanation: Despite the clear contact and the appeal, VAR upheld the referee’s decision to not award a penalty. The Premier League later explained that VAR had reviewed the incident but concluded that there was not enough evidence to overturn the on-field decision. This decision has caused some confusion and frustration among fans and pundits, with many feeling that it was a missed opportunity for United to have had a second penalty.
The use of VAR in this incident has drawn significant attention. While VAR is intended to help ensure accurate decisions, its use continues to be a subject of debate, especially when it comes to subjective calls such as this one. In this case, United’s claims were not upheld, despite the clear nature of Dias’s challenge on Højlund.
Outcome of the Match: Ultimately, the game continued with the score still level at 1-1, but United’s determination paid off in the closing stages. Amad Diallo, already having earned the penalty and played a crucial role in the attack, scored the match-winning goal just two minutes after Fernandes’ equalizer. The young winger received a long pass from Lisandro Martínez and expertly finished past City goalkeeper Ederson to secure the victory for United.
In conclusion, while the VAR decision regarding the Højlund incident added to the drama and controversy of the game, Manchester United ultimately triumphed with a late winner from Diallo. The victory was significant not only because of the three points secured but also due to the performance of players like Diallo, who seized the opportunity to shine in the absence of Rashford and Garnacho. The VAR decision, however, will continue to fuel discussions about its consistency and effectiveness in making crucial match decisions.