Zlatan Ibrahimovic had the wherewithal to jump over the challenge but he could have been in for a very short evening if not for his awareness.
It took just two minutes for Manchester United to open the scoring against West Ham on Wednesday night, when the home side cut the Hammers defence apart early on.
Goal: Ibrahimovic scores to give United the lead. #Mufc
— 🔰 Totally Man Utd™ 🔰 (@TotallyMUFC) November 30, 2016
A slick Henrikh Mkhitaryan backheel perfectly fed the ball into the path of the onrushing Ibrahimovic, who slipped it beyond Adrian and into the back of the net in the EFL Cup quarter-final at Old Trafford.
Most fans were understandably focused on the ball as it dribbled over the line but the Spanish goalkeeper’s desperate attempt to close down the Swede prompted plenty of supporters to call for a red card.
In the below angle of the opener, you can see Adrian’s right boot come up and land studs-up on Ibrahimovic’s kneecap, which was ever so slightly hyper-extended midair.
But if the United striker’s foot had been planted at the time, it’s likely that a stretcher would have been required to take him from the playing surface.
He was lucky. So too was Adrian. And United fans were quick to voice their disagreement with the decision.
That's a red card for Adrian, dirty cunt.
— Georgie 🏳️🌈 (@LieutenantSloth) November 30, 2016
FUCK OFF ADRIAN SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RED CARD
— Marwan (@MarwanM__) November 30, 2016
That was dirty from Adrian there. That was anyone else that's a red card. #mufc
— Adrian Fletcher (@AdeFletcher) November 30, 2016
https://twitter.com/ThatMUFCGuy/status/804053435658031104
That is filthy from Adrian on Zlatan there! Red card all day! #MUFC
— Dave Garghan (@DaveGarghan9) November 30, 2016
https://twitter.com/POL1T1CS/status/804053641669656576
https://twitter.com/1985AK47/status/804053930292473860
Should have Been a fucking red card for Adrian. Straightened leg towards the player!!! #mufc
— JoHaf (@jnshfz) November 30, 2016
Should have been a red card as well as a goal, awful challenge from Adrian. #mufc
— Sam (@SamRedDevil) November 30, 2016
People get annoyed by Jose Mourinho'a moaning but c'mon – that was a clear red card foul by Adrian and he gets away with it.
— Neil Monnery (@neilmonnery) November 30, 2016
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