Michael Carrick thought his Manchester United side had taken the lead against Chelsea, only for VAR to intervene and break his heart
Matheus Cunha's disallowed goal for Manchester United against Chelsea
Matheus Cunha thought he has opened the scoring for Manchester United(Image: TNT Sport)
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Manchester United have been handed an immediate verdict on Matheus Cunha's disallowed goal against Chelsea. The Brazilian forward thought he had given Michael Carrick's side the lead when he tapped in Harry Maguire's knock-down.
Cunha ran off to the corner and did his trademark surfing celebration, as Carrick and his staff celebrated a vital goal. Unfortunately, in the background, VAR was reviewing the goal.
They quickly disallowed it as Cunha's leg was in an offside position as Maguire headed back to him. After the goal was ruled out for the marginal offside, TNT Sports pundits Ally McCoist and Joe Cole were in despair for the under-pressure Carrick.
Not long after it was ruled out, the official Premier League Match Centre X page uploaded a statement which said: "34’ VAR OVERTURN. VAR checked the referee’s call of goal – and determined that Cunha was in an offside position and recommended that the goal was disallowed."
When the decision was confirmed, the camera panned to a disappointed-looking Carrick. After he flashed up on the screen, TNT commentator Darren Fletcher said: "Let me just tell you that's the last thing the poor fella sat on the bench needs to see. He must be thinking, 'how do I buy a break here?'"
McCoist then replied: "It's so unlucky because the defender bumps him offside, it's unbelievable. How's your luck? There's no getting away from it, it's offside but a great degree of sympathy for the goalscorer.
Manchester United's Brazilian striker #10 Matheus Cunha (R) celebrates after thinking he'd scored the first goal but it was disallowed for off-side during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in London on October 31, 2026
Matheus Cunha's celebrations were cut short(Image: AFP or licensors)
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"I will say something, regardless of his managerial and coaching skills, he's a top fella, he's managed himself superbly."
McCoist's colleague Joe Cole, who was Carrick's room-mate when the pair came through the ranks of West Ham, also said: "He was my roommate. If you can do that and keep your head in the game... no listen, he's represented this club unbelievably well as a player, manager and coach and the fans showed that last week. Listen, it's not over."
Carrick's job is firmly on the line after a miserable run of eight matches in all competitions without a win. He appeared to be on the ropes after last weekend's 3-0 home loss to Bournemouth, but the United board opted to give him some time to turn things around.
Michael Carrick, Manager of Manchester United, reacts as a goal scored by Matheus Cunha is ruled out by VAR for offside during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Chelsea FC and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on October 31, 2026 in London, England
Carrick looked devastated when the goal was disallowed(Image: 2026 Getty Images)
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Carrick also reinstated club captain Bruno Fernandes into the starting eleven, after leaving him on the bench against Bournemouth. From the off, United immediately looked better than they did against the Cherries and Como in the Champions League.
Had Cunha's goal counted, it would have been a deserved lead for Carrick's team, who had the better of the chances against the Blues. Fernandes sliced a presentable opportunity after a great counterattack, while Amad missed two good chances and saw another effort be well saved by Blues goalkeeper Mike Penders.
Meanwhile, the Blues also had a goal be disallowed for offside. Estevao tapped in a rebound after Senne Lammens saved well from Pedro Neto, but the Brazilian had strayed offside before the Portugal international's shot.