Killjoy VAR chalks off wonder goal for Brighton’s Alexis

SHOT DISTANCE: 26 yds TIME FROM BOOT TO GOAL: 0.92 sec SPEED OF SHOT: 62 mph

ALEXIS MAC ALLISTER was denied a goal of the season contender when VAR intervened to flag a marginal offside in the build-up to his thunderous strike. The Argentine ran on to a loose ball shortly after half-time and thumped a half-volley past Leicester goalkeeper Danny Ward. But jubilant scenes at the Amex Stadium were brought to a screeching half shortly after, when ‘CHECKING GOAL’ appeared on the big screens.

Sure enough, Brighton’s enock Mwepu was a few millimetres offside when the initial free-kick was taken, despite making no contact with the ball when it was cleared by Leicester. It took four minutes for VAR Chris Kavanagh to determine whether or not Mwepu was in an offside position, and then a further minute to explain his decision to referee Tony harrington — who agreed with Kavanagh’s assertion that Mwepu had interfered with play. Not to be denied, Mac Allister then struck twice, but was denied a hat-trick — and one of the best goals he will ever score.

Pick that one out: the ball breaks to Mac Allister on the edge of the area and he smashes a first-time shot into Ward’s top