Weghorst thought he’d scored first goal since March… only for VAR to intervene

Wout Weghorst thought he had scored his first goal in three months – only to be judged offside during the Netherlands’ 3-2 defeat to Italy.

The Burnley centre forward, who spent the second half of the 2022/23 season on loan at Manchester United, hasn’t found the back of the net since March.

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That came in the Red Devils’ 4-1 Europa League last-16 first leg victory over Real Betis.

In total, he scored just twice from 31 outings in all competitions during his United loan spell, with none of his strikes coming in the Premier League.

But he thought he had ended his three-month goal drought by halving the deficit in the 85th minute during the Nations League third-place play-off match.

In a goal which was 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, his celebrations were short-lived as 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.

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Hitting out at his team for conceding twice in the opening 20 minutes, Van Dijk said: “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, as he remarked: “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.”