BACK FROM THE DEAD!
Five minutes AFTER the final whistle, Fernandes penalty steals win for United following yet more VAR intervention
THIS was a resurrection from the dead, unprecedented in Premier League history and presumably unseen previously in the 149 years of competitive football history in this country.
Even Fergie time did not extend beyond the final whistle. There is something almost sacrosanct about the referee blowing for time, a marker that your job is done and nothing can now hurt you. No longer.
The game was over, many players turning to head back to the tunnel. And Solly March’s 94th- minute equaliser, headed in at the far post from Alireza Jahanbakhsh’s cross, had dramatically rescued a wholly deserved point for Brighton. In fact, a draw felt a bit of a travesty. A 5-3 win for Brighton would not have been unfair.
So, referee Chris Kavanagh signalled time and March, scorer of Brighton’s l ate equaliser, was congratulated by his team-mates for clearing the ball off the line from Harry Maguire’s header, that late effort from a Bruno Fernandes corner being the last that United had to offer. Or so it seemed.
For, as players headed to the dressi ng r oom, Maguire was adamant: there had been a handball en route to goal. A fight almost ensued, as Brighton players p rotested. This would feel like an injustice too far.
Fo r long periods they had outplayed United, cut through them, pressed them zealously and exposed them defensively. Five times they hit the woodwork, three of them from Leanardo Trossard.
And now an impending judgment loomed beyond the allotted time. As soon as Kavanagh started his walk to check the pitchside monitor, the outcome was inevitable.
And there it was on the replay, clear as the bright sunshine: Neal Maupay had led with his arm to divert Maguire’s header.
Still, Bruno Fernandes had to finish the job, coolly lifting his penalty into the top right- hand corner. And United had their win. Yet how they had laboured for it.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is responsible for United’s mostfamous late, late show in the 1999 Champions League final but he had never experienced anything like this. ‘I don’t think we ever scored after the final whistle,’ he quipped. ‘We need more late goals! We lost the fewest games last season apart from Liverpool, but we drew too many so this is a great boost.’
As Solskjaer pointed out, the handball was within time, so the correct decision was made. Indeed, VAR had a good day, correctly overturning a penalty for Brighton and ruling out a Marcus Rashford goal for offside. But given that Fernandes might have been sent off when he conceded a first-half penalty — while already on a yellow card—that was no consolation for Graham Potter.
‘I can’t make it feel any better other than telling them how well they all played,’ said Brighton’s manager. ‘ The performance was amazing, as well as I’ve seen us play. It was one to be proud of but at the moment i t’s very sore. Thankfully for my heart and stress levels, I haven’t been involved in too many games like that.’
There was plenty more for Solskjaer to ponder. He had a ready answer to those questioning the laxity of United.
‘The spirit and character of the boys I don’t question at all,’ he said. ‘The sharpness and fitness may not be there, but it’s going to come. We have three weeks of catch- up to do and then we’ ll be better and sharper.’
That remains to be seen. Paul Pogba’ s display, way off the pace, was explained by his lack of a pre-season due to coronavirus. But the structural issues — space conceded in midfield, eld, vulnerability down both flanks — have as much to do with shape as fitness.
Again, Solskjaer stressed the fitness angle. ‘We are not in our best shape or form, our shape is not there,’ he said. ‘We are not sharp enough to get out to stop crosses or follow (opponents’) runs.’
That much was clear. The freekicks United conceded in dangerous areas was also testament to their failings. The first-half display was perhaps worse than last weekend’s defeat by Crystal Palace. Potter’s 3-4-3 formation cut through United’s plodding midfield three with ease.
From t he moment Trossard rattled a shot off a post after 10 minutes, a pattern emerged. He did it again in the 21st minute, both times turning quickly away from the defence and leaving David de Gea well beaten. The third let-off for United came when Maupay’s cross was headed against the bar by Adam Webster.
Although Mason Greenwood had a fine goal disallowed after 33 minutes with Rashford offside in the build-up, United rarely looked like imposing themselves. It was no surprise when sluggishness saw Aaron Wan-Bissaka lose the ball on 38 minutes, which was worked over for Tar Tariq Lamptey to drive into the box, There he was felled by Fernandes. Maupay chipped the ball over De Gea in ‘Panenka’ style.
But Brighton invited United back into it, conceding a 43rd-minute free-kick which Fernandes whipped beyond the far post. Nemanja Matic turned it back across goal and as Maguire stuck out a foot, the ball deflected in off Lewis Dunk for 1-1.
Straight after half-time, Aaron Connolly fell as Pogba shadowed him i nto t he box, but a VAR i ntervention saved United. A disallowed Rashford goal (offside) then showed United were stirring.
After 54 minutes, Fernandes, deep in his own half, released Rashford. Once it was a foot race between him and Ben White, Brighton were in trouble. White was left on hi s backsi de a s Rashford shot high into the net.
Still Brighton came. March hit the inside of a post, Trossard thudded a shot off the bar. March was then denied by a Wan-Bissaka block and volleyed over with another fine chance. So to the late drama. On another day, it might have been a famous Brighton win. As it was, they took plaudits but United took the points.