Instant verdict on controversial penalty decision and Joelinton 'dive' during Newcastle vs Leeds United
Dominic Calvert-Lewin buried the subsequent spot-kick to put Leeds United 2-1 up at half-time.
Don Goodman believes VAR would not have awarded Leeds United a penalty for handball against Newcastle, had it not been given initially.
A frantic opening 45 minutes saw Brenden Aaronson hand Leeds a deserved opener from 20 yards around the half-hour mark, albeit their lead lasted less than 10 minutes before Harvey Barnes levelled. The Whites were then awarded a spot-kick in first-half added-time after referee Michael Salisbury penalised Newcastle defender Malick Thiaw for handball.
Leeds launched a long free-kick into the Newcastle box, with Jaka Bijol rising highest to head the ball into a dangerous area before Thiaw’s offence. The defender’s elbow struck the ball under pressure from Dominic Calvert-Lewin, although he believed he was pushed by the Whites striker.
A VAR review backed Salisbury’s decision to award the penalty, much to the frustration of many Newcastle players with Anthony Gordon booked for trying to scuff up the spot. It mattered little, with Calvert-Lewin confidently burying the spot-kick to restore his side’s lead going into the break.
“Does the referee deem it deliberate?” Goodman asked on Sky Sports. “Certainly, Thiaw thinks he’s pushed and he says to the referee ‘he’s pushed me’.
“He’s certainly off balance. If that hadn't been given, I don’t think VAR would have sent him to the screen. But Calvert-Lewin, cool as a cucumber, put Leeds back into the lead.”
Newcastle were furious with the decision and their anger intensified just seconds after going behind. Joelinton burst into the Leeds box before going to ground, with huge claims for a penalty waved away and the Magpies midfielder actually booked for simulation.
Replays showed Joelinton went down under no Leeds contact, with Goodman believing the right decision was made to brandish the yellow card. The Brazilian even walked the tightrope for a second caution after screaming at the referee and sarcastically applauding his decision.
“It’s incredible that a controversial decision at one end is followed literally seconds later by another,” Goodman added. “It’s a dive, you can’t get away from it. It’s Joelinton looking for it. The referee, not bowing to pressure, gives him a rightful yellow card.”