TWO of England’s remaining three Europa League representatives ground out the draw they were both dreading – to set up the last thing either wanted.
An FA Cup REPLAY!
Matt Doherty’s goal was ruled out for handball as Wolves and Man Utd drew 0-0 in the FA CupCredit: Getty
Wolves, playing their 36th game of the season, thought they had avoided the need to head to Old Trafford when Matt Doherty headed Jonny Otto’s cross beyond Sergio Romero after 76 minutes.
But the unlucky Irishman’s headed the ball off his own forearm in the process and there was no way VAR was going to miss the offence.
United will curse VAR for refusing them a first half penalty when Leander Dendoncker clashed with Brandon Williams in the box, but video ref Michael Oliver sided with ref Paul Tierney’s decision to wave aside United’s claims.
However Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men couldn’t complain at being handed a second chance after they ended 90 minutes without managing a single shot on target.
There was little to set the pulses racing during a fairly sterile first half which produced only one shot on target.
Doherty thought he had netted a winner for Wolves ten minutes from timeCredit: Reuters
It came from the home side who caused United hearts to flutter following a couple of dangerous Pedro Neto corners.
After 12 minutes the Portuguese winger whipped in an inswinger from the right and Romain Saiss’s powered header was deflected just wide.
This time Neto picked out Leander Dendoncker whose near-post flick found it’s way to Matt Doherty who had peeled off to the back post.
The Irishman’s perfectly controlled volley looked a goal all the way until Romero showed stunning reflexes to thrust out a hand to instinctively deny the defender.
Otherwise the only real talking point was United’s strong claim for a penalty after 32 minutes which left Wolves’ Leander Dendoncker in a lather.
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The Belgian stumbled and lunged in to try and retrieve his poor first touch and United’s kid left-back Brandon Williams toppled as two pairs of legs tangled in the box.
Williams and United were convinced they should have had a penalty but VAR ref Michael Oliver agreed with ref Paul Tierney’s assessment that Williams had arrived a fraction after the Belgian, who wasn’t guilty of foul play.
Fortunately the second half picked up once both sides decided to send for their big hitters in attack as they both bosses tried to avoid the replay neither wanted.
Raul Jimenez replaced Wolves’ 21-year-old striker Benny Ashley-Seal at half-time after the kid gave Harry Maguire a torrid 45 minutes and impressed on his first top team start.
The result means the two sides will play each other again in a replay at Old TraffordCredit: Reuters
However it was United who came within a fraction of breaking the deadlock when Juan Mata struck a sweet knuckle-ball free kick which wobbled past a helpless John Ruddy, only to fly a fraction wide of the net at the last moment.
Ole Gunnar Soskjaer then sent on Fred and Marcus Rashford and the England striker almost scored within 27 seconds of his arrival with a shot which crashed off the crossbar after taking a slight deflection off Conor Coady.
At the other end Jimenez tried a cheeky Rabona from a tight angle, then came even closer with a thunderbolt which crashed off the United bar.
Wolves thought they had snatched a late win when Doherty headed a Jonny Otto cross high past Romero from close range, 14 minutes from the end.
But once again VAR had the final say – an indisputable one this time – as the Wolves wing-back clearly headed the ball off his own forearm on it’s way into the net.
Wolves denied yet again by a VAR system they have come to hate … even when it is right!
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
