Union’s 2-2 was indeed a valid goal.
Yesterday in Extra Time I expressed my surprise at the fact that the goal was not disallowed: Nieuwkoop (the moment Mitoma touches the ball) stood with his left foot about forty centimeters over the goal line.
Cercle’s goalkeeper is in goal, the last defender is just in front of the goal line, but his shoulder could be level with the goal line. I assumed Nieuwkoop was offside, because there are no two people in front of him when Mitoma touches the ball.
However! Nieuwkoop is placed flush with the goal line due to his position, the part of his body that is over it does not count (that was my blind spot, I assumed that was the case, I assumed that the rules are some form of logic).
Since it cannot be said with certainty that the defender’s shoulder is an inch in front of or just on the goal line, the decision of the linesman and VAR is correct – not to intervene due to reasonable doubt. And the latter even deserves praise for the speed with which the image was looked up and the decision made.
When I thought the VAR was wrong, I labeled it impersonal: “A VAR mistake.” Now that I know that VAR was right, I am delighted to praise the person behind the image: Wesli De Cremer.
Tribute. And, more importantly, excuse me!
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