Galatasaray’s first goal against Man United in their 3-3 Champions League draw ‘should NOT have stood’ due to an obscure rule
- Galatasaray fought back from a 3-1 deficit to earn a draw against Manchester United
- The home team took advantage of the referees who overlooked a little-known rule
- Was Garnacho’s bicycle kick REALLY the best ever? Listen to the debate about It all starts
Manchester United’s Champions League qualification hopes suffered a huge blow after Galatasaray fought back to claim the 3-3 draw, thanks in part to an opening goal that should not have stood.
The visitors twice took a two-goal lead, first through goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes, before Hakim Ziyech replied before half-time.
Scott McTominay found the net in the 55th minute, before Ziyech’s second goal and Muhammed Kerem Akturkoglu’s thunderbolt.
But according to beIN Sportsthe hosts’ opening strike should not have been awarded due to a little-known rule.
The Turkish side had two players in front of the United wall when the ex-Chelsea winger stepped up to take the free-kick.
Hakim Ziyech scored the first of two free kicks to reduce the deficit to 2-1 in the first half
Erik ten Hag’s team missed the chance to qualify from the Champions League group
However, due to the proximity of the wall – reportedly a distance of 61 centimeters – Galatasaray’s goal should have been disallowed.
The outlet assumes that all attacking players must have at least one meter distance when the defending team is in the wall with three or more players.
The Moroccan took advantage of a mistake by United keeper Andre Onana with his second goal in the second half.
The draw leaves Erik ten Hag’s team at the bottom of Group A with only one match left to play. They face the daunting task of beating Bayern Munich at Old Trafford and will hope the result in the other match will go their way.
