Manchester United were dealt a reprieve by VAR in their Premier League match against Nottingham Forest when the Championship promotion winners from last season saw a goal correctly chalked off for offside.
Returning to Premier League action at Old Trafford on Tuesday night, United stormed into a 2-0 lead when Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial netted in quick succession. It was no more than Erik ten Hag and his squad deserved in what was a blistering start from the hosts.
However, while they maintained that advantage at the interval, it might have been a different story had the much-maligned VAR system not intervened to serve its purpose. Ryan Yates thought he had given Forest a way back into the game when he nodded home from a set-piece taken by Renan Lodi.
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After initial question marks over whether or not it struck his arm, the goal was actually ruled out for offside after a touch from Willy Boly at the back post. He had strayed into an offside position as VAR stepped in for its routine check, meaning United saw their clean sheet preserved at that time in the showdown.
During coverage on Amazon Prime Video, former Premier League referee Chris Foy explained the decision that was made. He said: "With a goal being scored, that is automatically checked.
"They were actually looking at when [Ryan] Yates headed it, whether or not it came off his arm.
"Once they had cleared that up - that is wasn't a handball - the next thing was when it deflected off him it went across to Willy Boly who was in an offside position. Once the ball is touched by Yates to Boly who is in an offside position, then it is going to be disallowed for offside, which is the right outcome."
Speaking on commentary duty, ex-England player Alan Shearer added: "It did look offside. They were happy with it not hitting his hand or his arm, but it did look offside and Boly got that final touch at that near post."
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