King Of Steel
I'MA USE AYSE PHANG!
I'm a bit miffed because of the fact that United always get the decisions at their home ground. The celebration, upon rewatching the game (I have it recorded), actually took place a couple of seconds before 90 minutes, so why should that time have been added on if it hadn't trespassed the 90 minute-mark yet? To be honest, United really get the backing of referees, especially in penalties (see much of the penalties given at Old Trafford throughout this year). Also, the substitution thing is entirely up to referees. I've seen players come on for just ten seconds and the whistle's blown. Where's the thirty seconds added?It was a 55 second celebration, I highly doubt the highlights show (having taken the time to deal with it cause it was an important issue) would have made a mistake with their timing of how long it took.
Therefore: 4mins + 30secs + 55secs = 5mins25s - which is when Owen scored. Add into that the amount of time you have to take to set up free kicks, as the ref stops play to arrange them then restarts it, and I think the time does expand far enough to say "yes it's a goal".
And remember the stoppage time that's shown is what the referee has said to the 4th official he intends to add on before the full 90mins have expired, it is his discretion on when he actually blows the whistle (that's why in so many games when 2mins is indicated it ends up being more like 2mins 40secs).
But yeah, I'll just let this go, because I already got over it, and just wanted to state my opinions on a whole, on this issue.