Edinson Cavani escapes punishment for apparent throat grab before scoring key goal in Carabao Cup against Everton
Edinson Cavani escapes punishment for apparent throat grab before Manchester United striker scores key goal in Carabao Cup quarter-final against Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton.
Edinson Cavani scored a crucial late goal for Manchester United in their 2-0 Carabao Cup quarter-final win against Everton on Wednesday but he was perhaps lucky to be on the pitch.
VAR has caused plenty of controversy in the Premier League this season and its absence in the Carabao Cup was always going to be a potential talking point.
The technology has not been in use in the competition all season and that was good news for United striker Cavani.
The Uruguay international appeared to grab Everton defender Yerry Mina by the throat early in the second half.
Mina went to the ground holding his neck but it looked as though the referee missed the incident entirely.
Replays showed that Cavani put has hand up at the defender and had VAR been in use then the official may have been asked to check the incident.
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Gary Lineker tweeted about what happened and felt that Cavani may have been slightly fortunate to be on the pitch.
He tweeted: “Cavani would have seen red with VAR.”
Just minutes later there was a second incident that again may have been looked at by VAR had it been in use.
Bruno Fernandes, without challenging for the ball, backed into Richarlison and the Brazilian then collided with Eric Bailly.
The Everton forward took a nasty hit and had to be immediately substituted due to a head injury.
But, as always seems to be the way, it was the Uruguay striker who popped up with a winner to send the Red Devils through to the semi-final.
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It was a brilliant goal too. Cavani was fed in by Anthony Martial and he curled the ball into the far corner.
Martial then himself got on the scoresheet in the final seconds of the game to seal the 2-0 result and book their place in the semi-final.
In the draw on the same evening, they were handed a home tie against arch rivals Man City.
When speaking about the Cavani and Mina incident after the game, United boss Solskjaer said: “It’s two South Americans that have had a few battles before. Not long ago – I think they met in the Copa America qualification.”
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