Sunday (Mar 3) evening turned out to be a decisive one in the Premier League title race after Manchester City beat arch-rivals Manchester United 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium. In a contest where United were second best largely, they had a shock lead in the 8th minute after Marcus Rashford scored a superb goal. However, it was in the 55th minute that sparked the controversy when City equalized for 1-1, but should the goal have been disallowed, or was the referee right to continue to play when Kyle Walker challenged Rashford in the build-up?
Was the referee right?
According to former Premier League referee Mike Dean, the challenge on Rashford from Walker did not have too much intensity. Also according to Dean, how Rashford went down after the challenge was not worthy of a foul and the referee made the right call.
“There’s an arm on an arm, but when the way he goes down, the contact and the way he goes down, it’s just not a foul and it is the correct decision.”
The incident did not go well with United manager Erik ten Hag as he was seen frustrated at the touchline and confronted the fourth official in anger. This resulted in the Dutch gaffer getting a yellow card for his troubles.
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Former United player and Sky Sports commentator also did not have too much sympathy for his former side and agreed that Walker’s challenge on Rashford was not worthy of a yellow card.
“We have seen two special goals at that end of the pitch. Manchester United are asking for a foul on Marcus Rashford, but as the ball comes over to Phil Foden, Lindelof does not do enough,” he said whilst commentating for Sky Sports.
“He allows him just inside him and he won’t expect that Foden is going to ram it into the top corner of his goalkeeper’s net, but he just does that. The power, the accuracy is incredible from Phil Foden’s left boot.
“Erik ten Hag is getting booked but I thought it was soft. He gets a little arm on him but there is nothing on that.”
What next in the title race?
Apart from controversies the match was highlighted by two superbly taken goals in the match. Rashford’s strike in the 8th minute is worthy of a Goal of the Season contender while Phil Foden’s first goal in the 56th minute was also a top draw. Foden would then score again in the closing stages while Erling Haaland capped off an impressive win for City. The win now sees them close the gap of Liverpool and could go top with a win next week at Anfield.
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