Erling Haaland opened the scoring for Manchester City in the derby against Manchester United, but it was far from a straightforward strike. The goal, which put City up 1-0, was initially flagged offside, leading to a lengthy VAR check that left everyone scratching their heads before it was finally allowed to stand.
VAR Drama: The Outstretched Foot That Made History
Talk about a rollercoaster of emotions for City fans. Haaland tucked in Josko Gvardiol’s deflected cross from the left wing and the flag immediately went up. Offside, right? Not so fast. VAR official Matt Donohue got to work, and after what felt like an eternity, the decision came down: goal allowed! What initially looked offside on TV replays was overturned by the Premier League’s semi-automated offside technology. Turns out, Manchester United defender Patrick Dorgu’s outstretched foot, as he went to close down Gvardiol and block the cross, actually played Haaland onside. Wild, right? One small detail made all the difference.
The Other Offside Call That Confused Everyone
So, why did the VAR check take forever? It wasn’t just Dorgu’s foot. Manchester City midfielder Enzo Fernandez was also in an offside position in the penalty box, attempting a diving header to reach the cross but missing the ball entirely. If Fernandez had touched the ball, he definitely would’ve been offside. But the VAR ruled he wasn’t interfering with play, which, let’s be real, is always a contentious call. There’s a strong argument floating around that Fernandez *did* put off United defender Lisandro Martinez, who was positioned between Fernandez and Haaland at the back post. You gotta wonder if Martinez would’ve cleared that cross, or if goalkeeper Senne Lammens could’ve collected it, if Fernandez wasn’t in the mix. Total confusion.
Haaland’s Record-Breaking Strike In A Ten-Man Fight
This wasn’t just any goal; it was Haaland’s ninth league goal against United, officially making him the top scorer in Manchester derbies in the Premier League. What a way to grab that record, especially with City already down to 10 men in the derby. Phil Foden got himself a first-half red card for kicking out at Bruno Fernandes, making this controversial opener even more crucial. City was playing with a disadvantage, and every call mattered.
This derby was absolutely wild from start to finish. With Haaland hitting historic numbers and City overcoming adversity down a man, the rest of this Premier League season promises to be a total nail-biter. Every match from here on out is gonna be massive, and you know these teams will be bringing the heat.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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