By Our Reporter
West Ham beat Manchester United with a deeply controversial late penalty on Sunday, leaving the Red Devils fuming.
Matthijs de Ligt was adjudged to have fouled Danny Ings in stoppage time after a lengthy VAR review.
The defender was left incensed when the VAR review popped up on the screen in the London Stadium, arguing with the referee that Ings appeared to handle the ball.
But despite what seemed to be minimal contact, West Ham were awarded a spot kick, sparking immediate questions over why VAR decided to get involved.
Jarrod Bowen stepped up to send a powerful shot into the bottom right-hand corner and seal a 2-1 victory.
Explaining the decision, the Premier League Match Centre posted on social media: “The referee did not award a penalty to West Ham for a challenge by De Ligt on Ings. The VAR deemed there was sufficient contact on Ings’ lower leg and recommended an on-field review. The referee overturned his original decision and awarded a penalty.”
The defeat piled yet more pressure on Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag, who was left baffled by VAR’s decision to intervene at such a crucial moment.
He said: “It was so difficult to see. Before the season there was the instruction about VAR only interfering in clear and obvious mistakes. That is definitely not a clear and obvious mistake from the on field referee.
“More frustrations but I can do nothing with that. They don’t collect points and that’s what we have to do. We have to look in the mirror, we don’t score in a good game from our side. Create loads of chances and concede none but when you lose in this way it’s a bad feeling.”
The Red Devils had eight shots in the first half against the Hammers, including Diogo Dalot’s candidate for ‘miss of the season’ – but the score was somehow still 0-0 up until the 74th minute.
But rather than Man United finally netting against a Hammers side that had managed just two wins in the league this term, it was the home team that struck first.
United failed to clear their lines, with the West Ham star taking off his shirt to celebrate after netting against his former rivals.
Casemiro pounced on a header from Joshua Zirkzee – who had been on the pitch for just two minutes – with nine minutes to go.
However it was to be the Hammers’ day in the end, with Man United suffering their fourth league defeat of the season leaving them 14th in the table.
It ironically leaves them level on points with West Ham, who go above them in the table.
Man United have now won just one game in eight in all competitions, leaving ten Hag under serious pressure.