Fulham captain Tim Ream says it is “frustrating” that Manchester City did not have a goal chalked off for offside just before halftime.
The hosts took the lead after Erling Haaland turned provider for Julian Alvarez, but the celebrations didn’t last long. Fulham hit back almost immediately as Tim Ream popped up at the back post to score the equaliser.
The game was heading for the break with things all square, but Man City put the ball in the net again when Nathan Ake headed home from a Phil Foden corner.
Controversy surrounded the goal however, as Manuel Akanji was seemingly in an offside position when he jumped over the ball as it went into the net.
Following a lengthy VAR check, the goal stood, which perplexed the Fulham players and manager Marco Silva.
“From our point of view, whenever someone is stood in front of the goal, the ball goes directly at him and he has to jump over the ball it is offside,” Ream told Sky Sports. “He was offside to begin with and then when he has to jump over the ball too, it is frustrating when that doesn’t get called.
“Whenever goals are scored just before or after half time it is always a critical period in the game, it is a tough moment to concede. You go in at half time with a down feeling instead of going in at 1-1 and feeling like you could get something from the game.”
Former referee Mike Dean argued on Soccer Saturday that the goal should not have stood. “He’s jumped over the ball, it’s gone between his legs,” the Sky Sports pundit said.
“It must have put the goalkeeper off. In my opinion, he’s a good half a yard offside. He jumps over the ball so he can’t not be interfering with the goalkeeper.”
City went on to win the game 4-1 with Haaland scoring a hat-trick, the last of which came from the penalty spot after Issa Diop pushed Alvarez over in the box.
The result maintains City’s 100 percent record in the Premier League so far, winning four games out of four.
