Wout Weghorst’s Goal Disallowed in Netherlands’ Defeat to Italy
Wout Weghorst, the Burnley centre forward who spent the second half of the 2022/23 season on loan at Manchester United, had his goal disallowed during the Netherlands’ 3-2 defeat to Italy. The goal would have been his first in three months, but VAR judged him offside. Weghorst scored just twice from 31 outings in all competitions during his United loan spell, with none of his strikes coming in the Premier League.
The Netherlands were playing in the Nations League third-place play-off match against Italy. Weghorst thought he had ended his three-month goal drought by halving the deficit in the 85th minute. In a goal similar to his dramatic equaliser against Argentina in the World Cup quarter-final, Weghorst found himself unmarked from close range after a free-kick. Reacting quickest to the loose ball, the 30-year-old dinked the ball over the onrushing Gianluigi Donnarumma. However, VAR deemed the Everton target to be offside.
Ronald Koeman’s men did eventually manage to pull one back shortly after Weghorst’s disallowed goal. But it proved to be too little too late, as Italy held on for the victory at De Grolsch Veste, with Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk slamming his side’s display.
Van Dijk was critical of his team for conceding twice in the opening 20 minutes, saying: “It’s just not good enough. The first half was bad. This can’t happen. You play for your honour today. I feel ashamed.” Koeman echoed his statement, saying: “Worried? Well, based on what I have seen in the first half… yes, I am worried. Van Dijk saying he is ashamed? So am I.” He added: “I blame myself terribly for today. I really thought we took a step forward.”
Conclusion
Wout Weghorst’s goal disallowed during the Netherlands’ defeat to Italy was a blow to the Burnley centre forward, who has not scored in three months. Weghorst spent the second half of the 2022/23 season on loan at Manchester United, where he scored just twice from 31 outings in all competitions, with none of his strikes coming in the Premier League. The Netherlands were playing in the Nations League third-place play-off match against Italy, and Weghorst thought he had ended his three-month goal drought by halving the deficit in the 85th minute. However, VAR deemed him offside, and Italy held on for the victory.