Crystal Palace shocked the Etihad Stadium again with two goals in 21 minutes against Manchester City on Saturday, but should the Eagles have been 3-0 ahead?
After an own goal from John Stones and a bullet header from Joachim Andersen put Patrick Vieira’s side 2-0 up, Palace had the ball in City’s net again on the half hour. Jordan Ayew slotted the ball past goalkeeper Ederson but referee Darren England disallowed the goal for an infringement in the build-up.
Ederson, rushing to the edge of his box after collecting a long-range effort from Cheick Doucoure, tried to roll the ball out from his hands to Kevin de Bruyne. However, Odsonne Edouard blocked the Brazilian’s attempts to start a counter attack, diverting the ball towards Ayew to finish.
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There were very few protests from Palace when the goal was disallowed and Eagles boss Vieira admits he didn’t have a clear view of it at the time. However, the incident, almost similar to Loris Karius’ mistake that allowed Karim Benzema to score in Real Madrid’s 3-1 win against Liverpool in the 2018 Champions League final, has divided viewers opinions.
Former Tottenham Hotspur striker Gary Lineker believes the goal should have stood, claiming that the ball had fully left Ederson’s hands when Edouard made the block. But former Spurs midfielder Jermaine Jenas disagreed. BBC Match of the Day host Lineker said: “This is interesting because the goalkeeper has got it and they are protected species.”
Jenas replied: “I don’t think there is any separation between Ederson and the ball. I don’t think it’s fully released.”
“I don’t know on that,” said Lineker. “It’s left his hands hasn’t it.”
Jenas continued: “I don’t think it has, no. It’s not like the Karius one from the Champions League final with Benzema where that was fully thrown and he blocks that and scores. I think it’s right on the tips of his fingers from Ederson when it gets blocked.”
Former Crystal Palace striker Ian Wright was unsure, adding: “I’d like to see that again because as a forward I liked to try and do that sort of stuff. It’s in the laws that it has to be totally released. I don’t know, it would have been 3-0 and Palace maybe would have finished them off.”
Despite going two goals ahead, three points were snatched from the visitors' grasp after a superb comeback from the Premier League champions in the second-half. Bernardo Silva pulled a goal back before Erling Haaland completed a 19-minute hat-trick to secure a 4-2 win for the Citizens.
There were questions over whether the Norwegian should have stayed on the field at a time when Palace were ahead though. Shortly after Palace’s goal was disallowed, Joachim Andersen went down after a high foot from Haaland caught the Danish centre-back in the back of the head.
Although Jenas admitted it was dangerous, the Match of the Day pundit believes it did not merit a red card for Haaland, saying: “We’ve seen them given, there’s no doubt about that. I don’t think it’s a red card in my opinion.
“He’s clearly trying to bring the ball down. The referee can clearly see the intentions of Haaland. Andersen’s head is coming down also. They’re asking for a red card. I think it is a yellow, it is dangerous and we have seen them given.”
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