Michael Owen says VAR worked ‘perfectly’ when it overturned Jonny Otto’s yellow card to a red card during Leeds United’s 4-2 win over Wolves at Molineux on Saturday.
The former England striker also added that he has ‘no problem’ with Leeds’ fourth goal, which was scored in stoppage-time by Rodrigo, after cries from the home team that Adama Traore was fouled in the build-up.
It was a game full of drama, controversial incidents, goals and red cards, with the ultimate of all three points heading to Yorkshire.
Wolves fell 3-0 down to their fellow relegation rivals and they were in a world of mess when Jonny Otto, before getting sent off, scored an outrageous goal from distance.
But that red card didn’t stop the home team from adding more spice to proceedings when Matheus Cunha added a second for his team, with the unthinkable comeback on, before more drama entered the action in stoppage-time.
Before Matheus Nunes could be shown red on 90+10 minutes, Rodrigo added a fourth for Javi Gracia’s side, but Adama Traore felt that his shirt was pulled by Marc Roca when he was dispossessed of the ball, and despite the check by VAR, the goal stood and Leeds took home three very valuable points.
This is what Michael Owen made of those two moments, as he told MatchDay Extra on Premier League Productions (18/03/23 at 8:30 pm).
“Certainly VAR was working perfectly, in terms of changing from a yellow to a red card (for Otto),” said Owen. “I think there will be debate about the foul, for the fourth goal. There is definitely a shirt pull.
“Whether or not it’s enough – the referee has gone to the screen, he has been able to see the shirt pull, but he has probably thought ‘you know what it’s not enough’. I have got no huge problem with that.”
STATEMENT FROM LEEDS
The only negative for Leeds from that Wolves game is that the international break has now arrived and they will lose momentum.
But those were three huge points for Leeds, especially given that it was away from home.
They are out of the relegation zone, but their issue now is that they have to make a trip to London to take on Premier League leaders, Arsenal, after the international break, so, even a point will be very valuable here.
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