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Lauren James goal disallowed against China at Women’s FIFA World cup.
England fans criticised the decision on social media, insisting that while Bronze was initially in an offside, a new phase of play should have begun after the ball had struck a China defender.
‘VAR has just robbed us of that Lauren James scream for no discernible reason,’ one fan wrote. ‘How is Lucy Bronze possible “interfering with play” when in the phase of play she’s ten yards from the header and the ball only came to her after she came back onside.’
‘Lauren James robbed of that absolute belter of a goal by one of the worst VAR offside calls i’ve ever seen,’ another said.
‘What am I seeing with that offside decision for Lauren James? I’m baffled,’ a third said.
‘How is that an offside, she is clearly just walking with no intent to get to the ball in the first phase of play,’ claimed another. Then in the second phase she was clearly on. Such a beautiful goal chopped off with a silly decision.’
Wang Shuang reduced the deficit for China in the second half with a penalty.
England supporters were left rueing the prospect of a stunning James hat-trick, after the forward scored a superb left foot volley to give the Lionesses a 4-1 advantage.
England would advance to the knock-out stages should they earn at least a point against China.
England look on course to cruise through to the knockout stages of the Women’s World Cup having gone 3-0 up at half-time against China.
Having taken the lead through Alessia Russo’s well-taken finish, the Lionesses doubled their advantage through Lauren Hemp before Lauren James added a third after a wonderful-worked set-piece routine.
James, who scored in England’s 1-0 victory against Denmark, thought she had added her second of the game and England’s fourth in first-half added time when the Chelsea winger curled home a superb finish from outside the box with her left foot.
Having celebrated with her team-mates, however, James had the misfortune of seeing her goal chalked off after a VAR check due to an offside in the build-up from Lucy Bronze.
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