Going into the USWNT vs England clash we knew there was going to be drama. With a storied history between the teams and Emma Hayes’ involvement, this encounter transcended being merely a friendly game. The USWNT appeared poised for victory but, as is often the case, VAR had other plans. So what transpired during this thrilling matchup?
Well, to start, substitute Yazmeen Ryan made her way into the penalty area and encountered England’s Alex Greenwood. In an effort to thwart Ryan’s scoring attempt, Greenwood extended her arms when the ball appeared to have struck her arm. The referee noticed this contact and promptly awarded a penalty kick in favor of the USWNT.
It was all celebration and excitement for the USWNT camp and their fans until VAR intervened. The referee was asked to review footage after VAR indicated that instead of contacting Greenwood’s arm directly, the ball first hit her abdomen before bouncing onto her shoulder.
VAR REVIEW: NO PENALTY
The ball hit off of Alex Greenwood's abdomen and then deflected to her shoulder#USWNT @Lionesses
— MillsRx (@GameMedicine) November 30, 2024
In fact, upon closer inspection by the referee, it became clear that there had been no direct contact with Greenwood’s hand or arm at all. Well seeing this, the referee had no option but to overturn the initial decision and rescind the penalty call. As play resumed without any advantage, USWNT was left disheartened following their earlier excitement.
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