Manchester United survived a late scare at Goodison Park to get back to winning ways following last weekend’s defeat to Manchester City.
Alex Iwobi gave the hosts an early lead but an almost immediate response from Antony, who became the first United player to score in his first three Premier League appearances, was the start of a good period from Erik ten Hag’s men.
Cristiano Ronaldo, who had replaced Anthony Martial due to the latest injury to the Frenchman, scored the winner late in the second half.
Everton applied the pressure after the interval but it looked like United were escaping a nervy ending when Marcus Rashford bundled the ball over the line.
Marcus Rashford finds the back of the net but the goal in disallowed due to a handball ⛔️ pic.twitter.com/dY9MiqMrTJ
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 9, 2022
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Rashford celebrated the goals with his team-mates and it looked like everyone at Goodison Park were preparing for play to be resumed but with the score at 3-1.
That didn’t happen. Instead, the goal was disallowed by VAR, who put the decision down to a handball by Rashford. After the game, Rashford was quick to react on social media, saying the decision was ‘questionable’.
+3 Points on the road @ManUtd 🔥 VAR was questionable but thankfully it didn’t impact the result 🔴
— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) October 9, 2022
“+3 points on the road,” Rashford wrote on Twitter. “VAR was questionable but thankfully it didn’t impact the result,” he added.
The odd decision will not gain as much traction as it would have if United dropped points but it’s still worth examining. Earlier on Sunday, a similar situation occurred in the game between West Ham and Fulham.
In that game, Michail Antonio’s near-identical ‘handball’ was not penalised and the goal was given but a different approach was taken for United.
It remains to be seen whether United ask for clarification on the matter but as Rashford mentions, thankfully it did not impact the result.
I don’t know why United always choose to be silent over issues like this,that goal wasn’t handball,club needs to seek clarification on things like this,if left unquestioned,referees and VAR will consequently cheats Man U and wrong decisions making during matches won’t stop.
Is it hand ball or arm ball.I think this needs addressing .We can’t continue proclaiming hand ball when it clearly hit the arm …hand ball is below the wrist .Rashford did not arm the ball nor hand the ball…the ball hit his chest near the arm.The commentators are also influencing the VAR decision …they are pronouncing before VAR..