Manchester United went into the EFL Cup Final as favourites, and opponents Southampton may have felt they would have needed the breaks to go their way early on.
Instead, however, the opposite was true, with the first real flashpoint going the way of José Mourinho’s side.
Manolo Gabbiadini was chosen to lead the line by Claude Puel, and he thought he had given his team an early lead when he turned in a low cross from Cédric.
Unfortunately for the Italian, his celebrations were cut short by an offside flag which seemed at best very harsh and at worst just plain wrong.
DISALLOWED: Southampton thought they had taken the lead against Man Utd. Watch the EFL Cup final on Sky Sports 1. https://t.co/enmNVf1QY4
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 26, 2017
Harsh on #SaintsFC there, Gabbiadini not offside. pic.twitter.com/knl4rxQRWl
— FLIP Sports (@FLIPSportsapp) February 26, 2017
It didn’t take long after that for United to go ahead through a Zlatan Ibrahimović free-kick, which many felt Fraser Forster should have been able to deal with, and Jesse Lingard added a second before Gabbiadini pulled one back on the stroke of half-time.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic scores his 25th goal this season & becomes the 2nd oldest scorer in @EFLCup Final history, after George Eastham in 1972 pic.twitter.com/4QQqxIdrUd
— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) February 26, 2017
But that didn’t stop the conversations about the goal that should have been, with plenty of frustration from those rooting for the underdog.
And, as tends to be the case when English football’s most decorated club gets a decision their way, the words ‘agenda’ and ‘conspiracy’ began to creep into the responses.
The amount of Offside decisions United have had in their favour this season has today reached double figures. Dont tell me theres no agenda
— We've Witnessed Glory others can only dream of (@pboro5times) February 26, 2017
Manchester United get so many decisions incorrectly in their favour , not even funny anymore !
— Mihir (@ImMihir05) February 26, 2017
https://twitter.com/iNabberTV/status/835894283697864708
Man United getting big decisions go their way… in other news grass is green #EFLCupFinal
— Steve Kettley (@StephenKettley) February 26, 2017
Not like Man Utd to get a decision like that
— lewis (@lewinick) February 26, 2017
That offside decision was diabolical. Presume assistants get cup finals in 1st place because they are able to make calls like that correctly
— Amitai Winehouse (@awinehouse1) February 26, 2017
I'm not saying there's a conspiracy, but ever since Mourinho loudly bitched and moaned about referee decisions a lot have gone United's way.
— Joe Butterfield (@joebutters) February 26, 2017
https://twitter.com/CDBaker86/status/835893936552034304
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