Newcastle United thought they had taken a 1-0 lead over Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday evening when Joe Willock found the back of the net on the stroke of half-time, only for VAR to intervene
Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United have been given an instant explanation as to why Joe Willock's opening goal was ruled out by VAR on Tuesday evening.
Spurs' opponents thought they had taken a 44th-minute lead when former Arsenal midfielder Willock broke free of the hosts' back line and fired beyond Guglielmo Vicario.
However, VAR came to Spurs' rescue and ruled out the strike following a thorough review. Now, the Premier League Match Centre have provided an explanation for the overturned goal decision.
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A post on X, formerly Twitter, read: "VAR checked the referee’s call of goal – and established that Willock was in an offside position and recommended that the goal was disallowed."
It was accompanied by a graphic created using the findings of the Premier League's semi-automated offside technology, which was introduced last year to expedite the process deciding offsides using VAR.
As replays were shown live to television viewers on broadcaster TNT Sports, commentator Sam Matterface described the offside as "very, very slight."
The call was to Newcastle's disdain, however their mood quickly shifted as Malick Thiaw scored moments later with the match officials unable to find a fault.
The defender poked in from close range after Spurs had failed to clear the danger from their own penalty area.
Spurs' misery at the end of the first period was compiled having watched winger Wilson Odobert leave the action with injury just past the half-hour mark.
The 20-year-old attempted a challenge on opposite attacker Harvey Barnes in Spurs territory, jarring his left knee as he landed.
Odobert, in agony, required treatment on-field whilst being consoled by Spurs teammates Micky van de Ven and Xavi Simons.
He left the field without help and went immediately down the tunnel with one of the club's medical staff.