Just as in the opening moments of the match, Ruben Dias found himself chasing Marcus Rashford midway through the first half. ..Continue Reading
The energetic Manchester United loanee darted into the box, passing the ball to Jacob Ramsey, who went down after contact with Dias.
Raising his arms in a gesture of innocence, the Portuguese defender convinced referee Craig Pawson to let play continue.
However, VAR official John Brooks intervened, prompting Pawson to review the incident on the pitch-side monitor. After examining multiple angles, Pawson ruled it a “clear trip” and awarded the penalty.
The Premier League’s official Match Centre X account provided a detailed breakdown of the events as they unfolded.
“VAR checked the referee’s call of no penalty to Aston Villa for a challenge by Dias on Ramsey – and deemed there was a clear trip and recommended an on-field review,” the post read. “The referee overturned the original decision and awarded a penalty to Aston Villa.”
The crowd at the Etihad Stadium voiced their disapproval of the referee’s reversal of the initial decision. Pep Guardiola, outraged by the call, earned himself a yellow card after his passionate objections.
Rashford’s brilliant start to the game culminated in a calmly taken penalty, leveling the score after Bernardo Silva’s early sixth-minute strike.
The United academy graduate, with six goals in 22 Manchester derbies, has deep roots as a Mancunian, although his family ties add an extra layer of complexity to his allegiances.
“Half my family were United supporters and the other half were City,” Rashford has explained in the past.
The Rashford family members supporting City would have closely followed Tuesday’s clash, aware of its significance in the fiercely contested battle for Champions League spots.
Both Manchester City and Aston Villa are among five teams vying for the three remaining positions that grant access to Europe’s elite club tournament.
