Kaoru Mitoma’s disallowed goal against Man City was a “sad” situation for Brighton as VAR got involved, Keith Hackett revealed
Fabian Hurzeler’s team were quick out of the gates at the Etihad Stadium on 15 March, with Stefan Ortega picking the ball out the back of his net after just eight minutes, but it was not to be for the Seagulls.
Man City then went down the other end, taking the lead themselves via an Erling Haaland penalty after Omar Marmoush was brought down in the box by Adam Webster just two minutes after the incident.
Simon Hooper was card-happy throughout the clash, with Joao Pedro, Savinho, Mitoma and Carlos Baleba all picking up cautions in the first half, but it was not him who made the key decision
Marmoush, who Man City fans have fallen in love with, turned goalscorer before the half-time break, handing another blow to the visitors, and firing a rocket past Bart Verbruggen from outside the penalty area.
Jack Hinshelwood fired home an early equaliser in the second half, taking advantage of sloppy defending, but with the points being shared, it could have been a very different story for the Seagulls
However, following a VAR check, the Japan international was deemed to have committed a foul by knocking the ball out of Ortega’s hands before bundling an effort into the back of the net.
After this goal-mouth scramble, Hackett believes the goal was always going to be disallowed, with the benefit of the doubt going to the defence rather than Mitoma, who was the subject of Chelsea’s interest last month
Immediately [once] VAR intervened it was sadly obvious that the goal would be disallowed. On a tight decision such as this, they are going to give the benefit of the doubt to the defence.”
The Seagulls remain two points outside of the top-four spots in the Premier League table, with Chelsea, Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Bournemouth and Fulham all fighting to climb up the league.
Attention will turn to their upcoming FA Cup fixture against Nottingham Forest, with European qualification available by winning the domestic competition as well.