Bournemouth 2-2 Man Utd: Were the penalty decisions correct?
Premier League
Man Utd were fortunate to escape Bournemouth with a point on Saturday night
Red Devils handed second-half penalty for Adam Smith handball
Cherries had late spot-kick of their own overturned by VAR
By James Cormack
Apr 14, 2024
Bournemouth had a late penalty overturned by VAR against Manchester United
Bournemouth had a late penalty overturned by VAR against Manchester United / Catherine Ivill - AMA/GettyImages
Manchester United missed a huge opportunity to close the gap on the Premier League top four after Tottenham were battered at St James' Park on Saturday afternoon.
The momentum gained from Erik ten Hag's woefully flawed entertainers' 2-2 draw with Liverpool last weekend was sapped on the south coast as they were twice forced to come from behind to earn a point. They're now ten points adrift of Aston Villa in fourth with just six games remaining, with less desirable European football set to be in the offing for next season.
Simply put, Ten Hag's side do not deserve a spot among the continent's elite and many will argue that they were fortunate to escape with a point at the Vitality Stadium.
There were two moments of contention which fell United's way as they earned a second-half penalty before Bournemouth had a late spot-kick of their own overturned by the video assistant referee (VAR).
But did the officials get these decisions correct? Let's take a look.
Adam Smith's handball
Adam Smith
Smith was harshly penalised for handball / Catherine Ivill - AMA/GettyImages
United were playing catch-up in the second half after Justin Kluivert had restored Bournemouth's lead before the break and were handed a gift just after the hour when Adam Smith was penalised for handball.
Kobbie Mainoo's effort was blocked by Ryan Christie, with Smith handling the ricochet. Referee Tony Harrington was quick to point to the spot and the decision was upheld by VAR.
Many were left aghast by the decision, but Smith made a slight movement towards the ball which prevented it from reaching Marcus Rashford inside the area. Smith's resigned look after the incident says it all, with Sky Sports pundits Izzy Christiansen and Jamie Redknapp agreeing that the right decision was made.
"I've seen a lot worse given," Redknapp commented. Nevertheless, it's harsh on Smith and it's unlikely VAR would have awarded a penalty had Harrington not given it on-field.
Willy Kambwala's foul on Ryan Christie
Ryan Christie
Kambwala brought down Christie in stoppage time / Marc Atkins/GettyImages
It looked as if Bournemouth would get a chance to win the contest when Harrington pointed to the spot following Willy Kambwala's collision with Ryan Christie in stoppage time.
However, VAR intervened and recommended Harrington to instead award a free-kick, deeming that the foul had started just outside the box.
It was mightily tight and, although Cherries boss Andoni Iraola was convinced his side should have had a penalty, the correct decision was made. The contact did begin just outside the box and the International Football Association Board's (IFAB) laws of the game state that infringements that take place outside the penalty area cannot be awarded as a penalty kick.
"If you put the frame up, they are maybe one centimetre inside the box, but it (the foul) continues inside the area," Iraola said post-match.
"He [Kambwala] goes with Ryan Christie two metres inside the box. It is obvious."
While penalties can be awarded for 'holding' fouls which start outside but continue into the box, as this incident was a mere collision, it's a matter of whether or not the first impact was inside or outside the area.
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FC Barcelona
Barcelona's best and worst players in narrow win over Cadiz
Joao Felix on the money for Barca with acrobatic effort
Xavi's side determined to stay on the coattails of Real Madrid in La Liga
The players who impressed on Saturday night ahead of huge PSG and Madrid clashes
By Joshua Browne
Apr 14, 2024
Barcelona triumphed narrowly at Nuevo Mirandilla.
Barcelona triumphed narrowly at Nuevo Mirandilla. / Fran Santiago/GettyImages
Barcelona did all they could to maintain pressure on La Liga leaders Real Madrid as they secured a narrow victory over Cadiz on Saturday night.
Joao Felix's remarkable overhead kick in the last ten minutes of the first half proved pivotal at Nuevo Mirandilla, leaving Xavi's team trailing by eight points behind Los Blancos, who won earlier in the day at Mallorca.
Barca are now unbeaten in 13 matches in all competitions since Xavi announced he would step down as manager at the end of the season, though the dramatic change in form has not influenced a rethink from the legendary former midfielder.
With El Clasico on the horizon next week, here are the Barca players who need to match or better their performance when they visit the Spanish capital according to 90min's player ratings.
Barcelona's best player vs Cadiz
Joao Felix - 8/10
Joao Felix
Felix scored Barca's winner / Fran Santiago/GettyImages
It was Felix who ultimately scored the match winner in the 37th minute. The 24-year-old embodied creativity, led Barca's attack and constantly sought the ball.
The 24-year-old forward had the opportunities to bag a brace and hit the woodwork with a sweet strike on one occasion having picked up the ball from Fermin Lopez.
Another display like this from Felix would serve Barca well in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final with Paris Saint-Germain in midweek before El Clasico on Sunday.
Honourable mention
Pau Cubarsi - 8/10
Pau Cubarsi
Cubarsi was one of three teenagers Xavi threw into his starting XI / Fran Santiago/GettyImages
A thoroughly mature showing from the 17-year-old, Pau Cubarsi once again didn't look out of place alongside Andreas Christensen, with the Dane arguably having the weaker display at centre-back.
Cadiz believed they should have had a penalty after Cubarsi's challenge on Isaac Carcelen, but the offside flag spared the blushes of the Barca defender.
Barcelona's worst player vs Cadiz
Vitor Roque - 4/10
Vitor Roque
Roque wasn't great on Saturday night / Fran Santiago/GettyImages
With injuries and suspensions piling up for Xavi before kick-off, Vitor Roque was handed just his second La Liga start of the season.
However, the 19-year-old Brazilian contributed little in the first 45 minutes and didn't improve before being replaced by Lamine Yamal in the 62nd minute.
Roque's performances was short of the calibre needed to start for Barca, but such progress is expected of a young player.
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Liverpool
Liverpool handed huge injury boost as star player returns for Crystal Palace clash
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Reds need victory against Crystal Palace in the Premier League title race
By Jude Summerfield
Apr 14, 2024
Alisson is back in the starting lineup for Liverpool
Alisson is back in the starting lineup for Liverpool / Stu Forster/GettyImages
Alisson Becker has returned to Liverpool's starting XI for the visit of Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Sunday.
The Brazilian hasn't played since the 3-1 defeat at Arsenal at the start of February due to a hamstring injury, with understudy Caoimhin Kelleher starting 14 consecutive games in all competitions since.
However, the Republic of Ireland international is now back among the substitutes with manager Jurgen Klopp bringing Alisson into his team to face the Eagles at Anfield.
There are starts elsewhere for Curtis Jones in midfield alongside Wataru Endo and Alexis Mac Allister, while Ibrahima Konate partners Virgil van Dijk at centre-back.
Alisson Becker
Alisson is back in action / Marc Atkins/GettyImages
Conor Bradley starts again at right-back, with Trent Alexander-Arnold named on the bench like he was in the 3-0 defeat to Atalanta on Thursday night.
The Reds need a big response to their midweek disappointment in the Europa League, with their hopes of Premier League title glory still in the balance. Klopp's side can leapfrog Manchester City and Arsenal at the top of the table with victory on Sunday, though the Gunners could reclaim first place themselves should they beat Aston Villa.
However, their injury concerns are starting to ease towards the end of the campaign. Stefan Bajcetic recently featured in a youth game, with Ben Doak, Joel Matip and Thiago now the only players currently absent.
Liverpool will hope to have a similarly clean bill of health after the Palace clash as they go about trying to overturn the 3-0 deficit in Italy on Thursday. Two goals from Gianluca Scamacca and a late Mario Pasalic strike mean the Merseysiders need to pull off a huge comeback in Bergamo, but Klopp's side have achieved similar feats in the past.
Sunday, however, provides the chance for Liverpool to get back to winning ways after being held to a 2-2 draw by Manchester United last time out in the Premier League.
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