FINALLY Paris Saint Germain got a VAR decision in their favour against Manchester United – as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s luck ran out.
Marquinhos slid the visitors back in front from close range in the second half and after several checks he was adjudged to be onside – by millimetres.
Marquinhos stabbed home the winner in the second halfCredit: AFP or licensors
The French champions have left the Champions League group on a knife-edgeCredit: AFP or licensors
And seconds later, the United bench were screaming for the ref to take another look at the challenge on Ander Herrera which had earned Fred a second yellow.
It was slightly ironic as minutes earlier – for the third successive tie between these two clubs – the Red Devils had benefited from a huge call in their favour from the video assistant.
And unlike on the other two occasions, they failed to take advantage.
Midfielder Fred clearly lost his cool and headbutted Leandro Paredes midway through the first half.
For sure, the Argentine made a meal of it – and would have been hoping to see his Brazilian opponent sent for an early bath.
Yet these days it’s a red card – just ask Arsenal’s Nicolas Pepe who got one for something similar at Leeds last month.
Italian referee Daniele Orsato went to look at his monitor but did not seem to look very hard and – to almost everyone’s surprise – pulled out a yellow card instead.
With the visitors a goal up and well on top at that point, it would have been hard to see United getting back into it with only 10 men.
Fred somehow escaped a red card in the first half for a headbuttCredit: PA:Press Association
The midfielder was given his marching orders in the second halfCredit: PA:Press Association
Instead it seemed to deflate Thomas Tuchel’s men – who probably felt they have been here before.
Just six weeks ago, United fully deserved their win in the French capital but they got a helping hand from the video assistant that night too.
Bruno Fernandes saw his first half penalty saved by Keylor Navas – but the Costa Rican goalkeeper was shown to have moved off his line.
The Portuguese made no mistake second time around as he put his team on the way to a famous win.
And who can forget the slice of good fortune they got in stoppage time of their last 16 match in March 2019.
Diogo Dalot’s speculative shot struck Presnel Kimpembe on the arm and after studying it several times over, the referee decided it was a penalty.
Marcus Rashford struck home the pen that time to give United a win which almost certaintly got Ole Gunnar Solskjaer the manager’s job on a permanent basis.
There was no way back for Paris that night but here there was still three quarters of the game to play when Fred was given his reprieve.
Maybe the visitors were still scratching their heads when United levelled 10 minutes later through Rashford’s deflected effort.
Fred again rode his luck when he left a foot in on Paredes – yet Orsato decided to book the Argentine instead.
Yet seconds after PSG had taken the lead – against the run of play – he slid in on Herrera and got the ball but Orsato issued a second yellow.
Solskjaer urged the ref to go to his monitor – and Fred hung around hoping that he would – but this time there was no reprieve.
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Man Utd lose 3-1 to PSG to set up a mouthwatering final Champions League group game at Leipzig
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
