According to GiveMeSport, Manchester United’s 3-0 victory over Brighton on the final day of the Premier League season was overshadowed by a contentious moment involving Bruno Fernandes’ potential assist record. While the Portuguese midfielder recorded a goal and an assist in the match, the validity of the latter has been publicly questioned, potentially preventing him from becoming the outright record holder.
The incident in question occurred with Manchester United’s opening goal. Fernandes delivered a corner kick into the box, which was met by Patrick Dorgu’s header. However, replays suggested that Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen may have handled the ball before it crossed the line and was subsequently headed into the net. If Verbruggen’s touch is deemed significant enough, the goal would be classified as an own-goal rather than a Dorgu strike, which would negate Fernandes’ assist.
The controversy quickly drew attention, with former referee and Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) chief, Keith Hackett, weighing in. Hackett unequivocally stated his position on social media, declaring, “This is clearly not an assist therefore record not broken.” His assessment highlights the fine line between an assist and an own-goal when a goalkeeper’s intervention precedes the ball entering the net.
The Premier League, aware of the footage and the ensuing debate, issued a verdict on whether the assist should stand. For Fernandes, the stakes are high; the assist would see him surpass legendary figures Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne to claim the outright Premier League assist record. Speaking after the game on Sunday, Fernandes expressed his pride in the achievement, acknowledging the role of his teammates.
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“It’s great. I feel very happy for that. Very proud moment, obviously it is not something I would dream or think about until I got this close. Today I was lucky enough to get that,” Fernandes said. “Jonny [Evans] believed more than me in that set-piece we prepared for Patrick because I was not so sure he would be able to score with his head. I got my assist but the main thing is we won today and finished very strong.”
Regardless of the final decision on this specific assist, Fernandes enjoyed a productive season for Manchester United, contributing significantly to their attacking play. He finished the campaign with an impressive 30 goal contributions, comprising 9 league goals and 21 assists, underscoring his importance to the team’s offensive efforts.
Sources: www.givemesport.com
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