ไทย
English
中國人
Bruno Fernandes's 50th spot kick for Manchester United brought up his 112th goal for the club, though it nearly went very differently for the skipper in Tuesday's hard-fought Champions League victory over a formidable Roma side at Old Trafford.
United had struggled throughout the opening half, shipping two goals within the first 15 minutes. Strikingly, it marked the first occasion they had ever found themselves two goals down at the break in a European fixture on home soil. The second half then began on a worrying note when Carlos Baleba was forced off after pulling up with what appeared to be a hamstring problem.
The Red Devils were handed a penalty in the 55th minute after Matheus Cunha was brought down inside the Roma area. A VAR review upheld the original decision and Fernandes stepped forward to drag his side back into contention. However, it was a poor effort—an uncommon miss from the spot—struck too centrally toward Roma's third-choice goalkeeper Devis Vásquez.
The Colombian stopper, making his debut for the club and unaware he would be starting until just three hours before kickoff in Manchester, got a firm hand to the ball. Roma skipper Bryan Cristante did the rest, rushing in to beat Fernandes to the rebound and clearing the threat.
That, however, is where things took a turn. Cristante was penalized for encroachment and the referee ordered the kick to be retaken. Fernandes made no error on the second attempt. Vásquez guessed differently and dived the other way, but the retake was struck with greater conviction and placed higher into the goal. He would not have kept it out regardless of which way he went.
Roma Encroachment Correctly Penalized
No outfield players are permitted inside the penalty area before the kick is taken. Any player other than the goalkeeper and the taker who enters the 18-yard box before the ball is struck is considered to be encroaching.
Encroachment is not always subject to punishment depending on the situation. For instance, if a defending player encroaches and the penalty is converted, it is irrelevant and the goal is allowed to stand. Similarly, if an attacking player encroaches but does not clearly interfere with the goalkeeper or contest for the rebound, a scored penalty would still count.
In this case, Vásquez kept out the penalty and Cristante, having slightly entered the penalty area before Fernandes made contact with the ball, encroached to gain an unfair advantage. The Roma midfielder challenged his United counterpart for the rebound and came out on top.
The official soccer rulebook, as outlined by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), states that: "A teammate of the goalkeeper is penalized for encroachment only if the encroachment clearly impacted on the kicker; or the encroaching player plays the ball or challenges an opponent for the ball and this prevents the opponents from scoring, attempting to score or creating a goal-scoring opportunity."
Momentum Shift Turns Defeat into Win
That proved to be a pivotal and correct decision from the officials given the effect it had on the game. There is strong reason to believe that had the penalty not been converted at that moment, Roma would have retained control of proceedings and gone on to claim the victory.
Shortly after Fernandes converted at the second attempt, Bryan Mbeumo came agonizingly close to an equalizer when a goal-bound effort somehow struck both posts before staying out. It was evident at that point that the momentum had swung decisively in United's favor.
Cristante ended up clearing a Harry Maguire header off the goal line, before that wave of United pressure saw Cunha level the score at 2–2 in the 83rd minute by capitalizing on a Roma defensive error.
The Brazilian had managed just one goal in 15 career Champions League appearances heading into this match, yet went on to score a stunning winner just three minutes later. He won the penalty, drew his side level and then put them ahead in a remarkable individual second-half display.
Remarkably, Cunha ended the match with a red card. His exuberant celebrations after netting United's third goal—removing his shirt and leaping into the crowd—earned him a first yellow card, which was then followed by a second for a reckless challenge in stoppage time.