Man Utd’s last-gasp equaliser slammed by Aston Villa chief over Senne Lammens VAR row
An Aston Villa chief has claimed Manchester United’s last-gasp equaliser should have been ruled out after Senne Lammens made contact with goalkeeper Zion Suzuki during Patrick Dorgu’s dramatic late goal
Manchester United equalised in the last minute of stoppage time(Image: Visionhaus, Visionhaus/Getty Images)
Aston Villa’s director of football operations Damian Vidagany has insisted Manchester United’s dramatic late equaliser should have been disallowed because of Senne Lammens. United salvaged a point in the dying moments of their thrilling 4-4 stalemate with Villa on Sunday.
Patrick Dorgu nodded in from a corner, which Lammens had ventured forward for. The Belgian goalkeeper focused his efforts on his counterpart, Zion Suzuki, who flapped and failed to reach the ball before Dorgu connected.
Vidagany claims Lammens’ challenge on Suzuki constituted a foul. He stated: “We’ve been told by referees during the summer that this season, pushing or unbalancing the goalkeeper on purpose inside the six-yard box was not going to be allowed anymore.
Aston Villa chief Damian Vidagany has claimed Senne Lammens fouled Zion Suzuki(Image: Ash Donelon, Manchester United via Getty Images)
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“Lammens didn’t even look at the ball. He went straight to make contact with his hip on Zion. We played a good match and we must do better than the last six minutes. We will improve. But the rules are the rules and must be respected. That is a fact.”
United icon Roy Keane disagreed with that assessment, telling Sky Sports after the match: “I don’t think Suzuki gives himself the best chance of getting it, he’s underneath it, just take a step back and attack it. There are bodies in the way, but there’s lots going on, football is a contact sport. I have no problem with it.”
Villa appeared to be cruising towards a comfortable three points to take back to the Midlands after establishing a two-goal cushion on two separate occasions. They were 2-0 ahead inside four minutes courtesy of strikes from Alysson and Nicolas Jackson.
Manchester United celebrate after Patrick Dorgu’s dramatic equaliser at the death(Image: Darren Staples/AFP)
A Bruno Fernandes spot-kick reduced the lead before Youri Tielemans levelled matters just before the break. But another sluggish start from Michael Carrick’s side saw them chasing the game once more just eight minutes after the restart.
John McGinn netted from the penalty spot before Leon Goretzka fired home. United refused to give up, though, and Joshua Zirkzee ignited hope with his 92nd-minute strike.
Dorgu then slotted home in the dying seconds of the six minutes of added time. Suzuki remonstrated with referee Chris Kavanagh, picking up a yellow card in the process, while VAR reviewed and approved the goal.
The draw means United enter the second international break of the campaign sitting 18th in the Premier League drop zone. Carrick’s position remains uncertain after still being unable to secure a league victory since August.
