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Erling Haaland netted the only goal of Sunday's derby to hand Manchester City a slim victory at Old Trafford, though the match was far from short on controversy. Manchester United center back Lisandro Martínez was particularly vocal, condemning the "injustice" of what he called an "offside" winning goal.
Reduced to 10 men after Phil Foden's equally contentious first-half red card, City faced an uphill battle trying to hold on against their fierce rivals in enemy territory.
The woodwork and a series of brilliant Gianluigi Donnarumma saves kept City in the game, maintaining the deadlock and setting the stage for a classic smash-and-grab.
Around the hour mark, Haaland found himself unmarked at the far post and slotted home City's only shot on target in the second half. The goal was initially ruled out for what appeared to be an obvious offside. Yet following a prolonged VAR review, the decision was overturned and Haaland raced off to celebrate what proved to be the decisive strike.
Premier League Release Unseen Footage of Haaland's Goal
Joško Gvardiol delivered a whipped cross from the edge of the area that Haaland converted. The television camera angle (above) suggested Haaland was clearly in an offside position when Gvardiol played the ball, but a deeper VAR examination told a different story.
Haaland was narrowly kept onside by Patrick Dorgu, who extended his leg in an attempt to intercept Gvardiol's cross and inadvertently deflected it into Haaland's path.
In straightforward terms, that should have closed the matter. However, as Martínez—the defender who curiously left Haaland unmarked at the far post—pointed out, there was the significant question of Enzo Fernández to address.
Why Enzo Fernandez Was Not Penalized in Man City Goal
No camera angle could show Fernández in anything but an offside position as he lunged to head the cross in front of Martínez. However, City's Argentine midfielder never made contact with the ball, and the Premier League Match Centre subsequently clarified that he was not deemed to be interfering with play.
"VAR checked the referee's call of no goal for offside—and determined that Haaland was in an onside position and recommended that the goal was awarded. The VAR also deemed that while in an offside position, Fernández didn't play the ball."
There remains debate over whether Fernández influenced proceedings despite not touching the ball, with some arguing he drew Martínez toward him, leaving Haaland free at the back post. The defender himself took up that very argument.
Martinez Rails Against 'Injustice' of Man Utd Defeat
"I think [Fernández] was offside," Martínez said bluntly to Sky Sports after the match. "What I can't understand is the rules. He was there! I went to him because he was in front of me. That's why Haaland was free at the back."
"I want to stay calm but it is so difficult. Every season the officials visit our club and spend an hour going over the rules and they seem so confident about it. Then after, five or six people [officials] making this kind of mistake in the Premier League is simply unacceptable."
Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville shared Martínez's frustration. "The officials will be uneasy about this goal," he said. "When they review it, they'll realize they got it wrong. The question is whether Fernández, who is offside, prevents Martínez from getting to the ball. He does."
Haaland, for his part, wasn't particularly concerned about his teammate's role. The striker was more preoccupied with the very notion that he could be offside at all. "I thought maybe someone had flicked it because I don't normally go offside, so I told [referee] Michael Oliver I took it a bit personally that he thought I was offside!"