Shakhtar Donetsk goal allowed to stand in Champions League crunch game despite linesman flagging for offside
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Updated 13/12/2023 at 22:58 GMT
Porto and Shakhtar Donetsk met with both sides level on nine points in UEFA Champions League Group H - with the winner progressing to the knockout stages of the competition. After going a goal down early on, Shakhtar found a way back into the game in controversial circumstances when the linesman's offside flag was ignored by the referee who, after a VAR check, allowed the goal to stand.
Porto v Shakhtar Donetsk
Image credit: Getty Images
There was confusion at the Estadio do Dragao during the winner-takes-all UEFA Champions League Group H match between Porto and Shakhtar Donetsk.
The hosts took an early lead through Wenderson Galeno in Portugal, but the Ukrainian side got themselves back into the match in circumstances which led to uproar from the Porto players.
Oleksandr Zubkov was released down the right hand side, only for the linesman to raise his flag for offside.
Many of the Porto players slowed down, but referee Istvan Kovacs allowed play to continue.
Zubkov raced into the box under little pressure before sliding the ball across for Danylo Sikan to tap the ball into the net for an equaliser.
TNT Sports commentator Martin Tyler said: “He was wafting the flag, but I don’t think they stopped the play.”
Clive Allen was also in the commentary box and said: “The flag went up, the game carried on and then it was raised again.”
“Whether the flag goes up or not is irrelevant if the referee doesn’t stop the game,” Tyler said.
VAR assessed the situation before awarding the goal.
Having looked at replays of the incident, Allen said: “The referee waved play on. When we saw it there, I didn’t think the first one was offside. Could it have been the second? No, the checks have been done.”
“It was always a night brimming with potential here for drama,” Tyler added as referee Kovacs proceeded to show yellow cards to a number of players and members of staff on the Porto bench for their protests.
It ended up of little consequence, with Porto running out 5-3 winners to claim second place ahead of Shakhtar, who have to settle for a place in the UEFA Europa League in the new year.
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