Neal Maupay controversially put Brentford in the lead against Manchester City on Monday, but there's a simple reason why the goal stood.
Despite City's previous struggles against Brentford, with two losses last season, they found themselves trailing again. In the 21st minute, Mark Flekken's goal kick went straight through the City defence, and Maupay slotted it past Ederson.
City players protested for offside against both Maupay and Ivan Toney. Maupay was offside when the goal kick was taken, and Toney, coming from an offside position, blocked Nathan Ake from intercepting the long ball.
However, Sky Sports commentator Seb Hutchinson clarified that awarding the goal was the correct decision.
"I think some of the City players had to be explained that rule as well. If Toney had touched it, it would have been offside. But he left it."
When it comes to a goal kick, players can't be offside. This means that Toney's part in the play, where he challenged Ake without touching the ball, and Maupay running onto the ball, were both allowed.
If Toney had touched the ball before it reached Maupay, then Maupay would have been considered offside because the ball wouldn't have come directly to him from the goal kick.
