SPORT NEWS
Super Wolves denied penalty in VAR shocker

Premier League
Manchester United 1
Wolverhampton Wanderers 0

A dreadful decision by VAR Michael Salisbury denied Wolves a last gasp penalty that might have gained them a point from a match they should have won.

Former Premier League referee Jonathan Moss, now a senior PGMOL official, even apologised to new Wolves manager Gary O’Neil after te match for what he described as a clear and obvious error.

United’s debutant goalkeeper Andre Onana had clattered into Sasa Kalajdzic as both went for the ball deep into stoppage time.

The Austrian striker, who had been on the field only a matter of minutes, was sent sprawling by the Cameroonian stopper.

Referee Simon Hooper saw nothing wrong with the challenge, but was notified that VAR was taking another look at it.

Everyone in Old Trafford recognised that Onana had made no attempt to play the ball, but Hooper was not even advised to check the monitor as the visiting manager O’Neil was cautioned for his touchline protestations.

United escaped with a victory, thanks to Raphael Varane’s 75th minute headed goal - the home side’s first serious effort.

But it had been Wolves throughout who had caught the eye, creating chance after chance, at times waltzing with ease through the United ranks.

Only poor finishing and a super display by Onana kept United’s goal intact.

Wolves registered 23 shots on goal against United’s 15, with six on target against the home side’s three.

It was the most by an away side at Old Trafford since 2005.

Matheus Cunha was the first to serve warning on the Reds as he motored through their defence midway through the first half.

He slid the ball to Pablo Sarabia who tried to find the far corner, but Onana got a fingertip to the effort to push it wide.

Minutes later the Spanish midfielder repeated the feat, breaking on the right and sweeping the ball across the United goal and just wide.

Then Nunez skipped past Bruno Fernandes as if he wasn’t there and did similarly just after the interval leading to Cunha missing an open goal, striking the outside of a post from just a few feet.

Antony attempted to lob Jose Sa in the Wolves goal, but Craig Dawson was on hand to head off the line.

Cunha had yet another opportunity, again breezing unchallenged through the United midfield and rearguard.

Onana dived to his left to turn the resultant effort round the post.

United had another let off when Pedro Neto was through on goal before shooting straight at Onana.

Then came the killer blow for Wolves as Aaron Wan-Bissaka lifted a bouncing ball to the edge of the six yard box for Varane to rise above the defence and head home.

Substitute Fabio Silva saw two chances saved by Onana’s feet before Hee Chan Hwang saw his shot diverted for a corner by Wan-Bissaka.

But it was not be for Wolves whose disappointed manager O’Neil said: “I thought live it was a penalty. It looked like the keeper nearly took our forward's head off.

“I think it is a foul, you go for the ball and clatter the player that hard, it is a penalty.

"I thought he was going over to the screen at first but unfortunately he booked me and not Onana.

"I understand the rules [of sticking with the on field decisions as much as possible], but I don't fully accept it.

"I have spoken to the officials about it already. It is a difficult decision for the on-field official, we can't just leave it. If we are all saying it then he need to have a look.”

O’Neil, who replaced June Lopetegui only last week, added: "In the end we can't just focus on that decision. To come to Old Trafford and have the most shots of any side since 2005 and dominate after just four days of work is exceptional. The lads deserved more tonight."

United manager Erik ten Hag said: “I think we matched the runs, the clean sheet tells that. We played organised but now we have to be better on the ball.

"We gave the ball away too easily. But we got a clean sheet and three points.

"At half-time the message was to be more calm, composed, get more switches in. Get in between the lines more, which we did and caused problems.

“When they broke we had to match the runs [from the strikers], and you lose that control.

"The creativity was not so good because we gave the ball away too easily.”

On Wolves' penalty appeal, he added: "It is difficult. The keeper was brave to come out to meet the ball. The ball was touched before Andre [Onana] dived in, so he did not influence the touch [attempt] from the Wolves player.

"The VAR checked it and said no penalty."

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