'Honestly' - Matheus Cunha questions referee decision during Leeds United vs Man Utd
The Manchester United forward believes he should have scored twice against Leeds United.
Manchester United forward Matheus Cunha has questioned the decision to disallow his first-half effort during Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Leeds United.
Cunha thought he’d opened the scoring inside seven minutes at Elland Road, the Brazilian’s half-volleyed effort from 20 yards going beyond Lucas Perri after a knockdown from Casemiro. The assistant referee instantly flagged for offside, however, putting a swift end to celebrations in the away end.
Replays showed that when Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens launched a ball forward, Benjamin Sesko was offside and the Slovenian challenged Pascal Struijk in the air. While no contact was made with the ball, he played an active role in the build-up, with a VAR review confirming the decision.
Cunha did go on to score, cancelling out Brenden Aaronson’s brilliant 62nd-minute opener before Elland Road almost instantly afterwards to level the score at 1-1. But the 26-year-old appears to believe that second-half effort should have been his and Manchester United’s second of the day.
"Honestly, I don't understand," he told TNT Sports of the disallowed goal. "I talked to the referee and I asked him 'who was offside?' and he said Ben [Sesko] I think, but I don't remember him participating in the action.
“It was Casemiro who gave the ball to me and then I shot, so I'm not sure where Sesko is. For me, it was a little bit frustrating."
That disallowed goal was a sign of things to come for Leeds, with Cunha the main source of danger from Ruben Amorim’s side. The £62.5million summer signing regularly drifted into space and caused plenty of problems for a Whites defence otherwise rarely tested elsewhere.
Matheus Cunha on Leeds United physicality
And while the much-anticipated rivalry never fully burst into life, Leeds did let Cunha and his teammates know they were in a game with some stern tackles and physical treatment. And a point-a-piece seems to have left everyone happy enough, with Daniel Farke’s side pulling eight points clear of relegation trouble and extending their unbeaten run to seven games.
"It was so hard,” Cunha added of the physicality. “We know what to expect, of course for them they try to do everything to win. It's hard, a lot of physical, but every single game when we wear this shirt we have to give it all, and today was no different.
"We need to keep going. After the draw, to come here isn't easy, we know how big this game is for everyone. But it is good to get a point here.”
That seven-game unbeaten run is Leeds’ longest since the start of the 2001/02 season under David O’Leary and they will look to extend it further in midweek. It will be no easy task, however, with a trip to Newcastle on the cards.
The Magpies beat Crystal Palace 2-0 at St James’ Park on Sunday, recording back-to-back Premier League victories for just the second time all season. Those points have pulled them up to ninth in the table ahead of Wednesday’s meeting.