Manchester United saw a second goal against Brighton & Hove Albion disallowed for offside on Saturday — all thanks to an incredible piece of bad luck involving one of their new signings.
Former Red Devils striker Danny Welbeck had put the home side ahead in the Premier League match at the Amex Stadium, but Amad Diallo equalised for the visitors in the second half.
Substitute Alejandro Garnacho looked to have put United in front after converting Bruno Fernandes' low cross into an unguarded net, with Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele already well beaten by the delivery.
However, after a VAR check, the goal was ruled out due to the involvement of Joshua Zirkzee, the striker signed from Bologna during the transfer window.
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Why was Alejandro Garnacho goal disallowed vs. Brighton?
Garnacho's goal against Brighton was disallowed for offside following a VAR check. The offence was committed by Zirkzee, who had also come off the substitute's bench in the second half.
It was a remarkable moment of misfortune for United. Diallo had combined well with captain Fernandes on the counter-attack, and the latter played a low cross through the six-yard box from the right. Zirkzee slid to reach the ball but failed to make contact, but Garnacho was arriving at the far post to side-foot the ball into the net, with Brighton keeper Steele out of position after trying to prevent Fernandes' delivery from reaching a teammate.
Yet replays showed that the ball struck the knee of Zirkzee as it flew towards goal off Garnacho's shot. Heavy rain had made for a slick playing surface on England's south coast, and Zirkzee continued to slide towards the goal after initially trying to reach Fernandes' original cut-back. In so doing, he inadvertently got in the way of Garnacho's finish, right on the goal line.
Crucially, the ball hit Zirkzee on the knee before it crossed the line, meaning the goal had to be disallowed because the Netherlands international had the final touch and was in an offside position. Had the ball missed Zirkzee, or had it already crossed the whole of the goal line by the time it hit him, it would have been a legitimate goal for Garnacho.
To compound United's frustrations, they conceded a 95th-minute goal to Joao Pedro, meaning the game ended in a 2-1 defeat.