JUST IN: PGMOL replay shows clear Evidence on why Zirkzee goal against Brighton was overturn to be offside goal – Evidence attached
Alejandro Garnacho thought he had scored a crucial goal for Manchester United against Brighton, only to have it disallowed in an unusual and frustrating turn of events involving Joshua Zirkzee.
With just 20 minutes left in the match at the Amex Stadium, Garnacho seemed to have completed a straightforward finish to put United ahead. However, as the ball made its way towards the net, it took an unexpected bounce off Zirkzee’s knee right on the goal line. Zirkzee had already slid in an attempt to meet Bruno Fernandes’ cross but missed the initial pass. This inadvertent touch, unfortunately, positioned Zirkzee ahead of Garnacho at the moment the ball was struck, leading to the goal being disallowed.
According to the rules, had Zirkzee made contact with the ball after it had fully crossed the goal line, the goal would have stood. However, Zirkzee’s unintended involvement left him helpless to prevent the referee from ruling the goal offside.
Zirkzee, who had previously scored the winning goal on his debut against Fulham just a week before, seemed to realize immediately the significance of his touch. As Garnacho ran off to celebrate what he thought was a goal, Zirkzee stood inside the goal, clearly upset and bewildered by what had just transpired.
Fans quickly took to social media to express their opinions on the incident. Many sympathized with Zirkzee, understanding that his actions were instinctive for a striker, while others lamented Garnacho’s missed opportunity. One fan remarked, “You can’t blame Joshua Zirkzee there. Every striker would stick his leg out, it’s intuition. He just got unlucky.” Another commented on the unfortunate situation for Garnacho, noting, “Such a shame for Garnacho. Can’t fault Zirkzee for his reaction.”
The incident also reignited debate over the offside rule, with some fans calling for a revision. One person argued, “It’s the right decision but just feel common sense should be applied here. There’s no impact on the outcome, the ball was going in the net, there’s no defense, no goalkeeper unsighted. The destination had not changed.” Another fan echoed this sentiment, saying, “That’s actually pretty stupid, the rule should be changed to allow that as a goal, especially as no player had a chance of stopping it.”
Zirkzee’s accidental touch proved to be costly, as the match was still tied 1-1 at the time. Amad Diallo had earlier equalized for United with a deflected strike, canceling out Danny Welbeck’s opener for Brighton. But in a dramatic twist, Brighton’s Joao Pedro found space at the back post in the fifth minute of injury time to head in a decisive winner, securing all three points for his team.
After the final whistle, Zirkzee was seen walking off the pitch alongside United manager Erik ten Hag, seemingly explaining his perspective on the incident. Despite the disappointment, the focus quickly shifted to what lies ahead for United as they look to bounce back from this frustrating loss.
