Simon Hooper, Kaoru Mitoma, Fabian Hurzeler, Brighton
Credit: DAZN / Imago / Paul Terry/Sportimage
Keith Hackett
Sat 15 March 2025 17:00, UK
Kaoru Mitoma’s disallowed goal against Man City was a “sad” situation for Brighton as VAR got involved, Keith Hackett has told Football Insider.
Fabian Hurzeler’s team were quick out of the gates at the Etihad Stadium on 15 March, with Stefan Ortega picking the ball out the back of his net after just eight minutes, but it was not to be for the Seagulls.
Man City then went down the other end, taking the lead themselves via an Erling Haaland penalty after Omar Marmoush was brought down in the box by Adam Webster just two minutes after the incident.
Simon Hooper was card-happy throughout the clash, with Joao Pedro, Savinho, Mitoma and Carlos Baleba all picking up cautions in the first half, but it was not him who made the key decision.
Marmoush, who Man City fans have fallen in love with, turned goalscorer before the half-time break, handing another blow to the visitors, and firing a rocket past Bart Verbruggen from outside the penalty area.
Jack Hinshelwood fired home an early equaliser in the second half, taking advantage of sloppy defending, but with the points being shared, it could have been a very different story for the Seagulls.
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Brighton goal disallowed by VAR and Simon Hooper v Man City
With Brighton attempting to secure a European finish in the Premier League this season, it was a brilliant start by Mitoma, latching onto a brilliant ball into the middle from Jack Hinshelwood as the City keeper dived for it.
However, following a VAR check, the Japan international was deemed to have committed a foul by knocking the ball out of Ortega’s hands before bundling an effort into the back of the net.
After this goal-mouth scramble, Hackett believes the goal was always going to be disallowed, with the benefit of the doubt going to the defence rather than Mitoma, who was the subject of Chelsea’s interest last month.
Kaoru Mitoma v Man City Stats, as per FotMob
Pass completion 73%
Shot accuracy 100%
Big chances missed 1
Tackles won 100%
Yellow cards 1
Mitoma caused issues for Man City at the Etihad Stadium.
Kaoru Mitoma penalised for Stefan Ortega clash
Speaking to Football Insider about Mitoma’s disallowed goal, the former referee said:
“Immediately [once] VAR intervened it was sadly obvious that the goal would be disallowed. On a tight decision such as this, they are going to give the benefit of the doubt to the defence.”
Kaoru Mitoma, Brighton
Kaoru Mitoma is a key player for Fabian Hurzeler.
The Seagulls remain two points outside of the top-four spots in the Premier League table, with Chelsea, Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Bournemouth and Fulham all fighting to climb up the league.
Attention will turn to their upcoming FA Cup fixture against Nottingham Forest, with European qualification available by winning the domestic competition as well.
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