Former referee Peter Walton has explained why Olivier Giroud's goal against Atletico Madrid was given.
Chelsea picked up a win and an all-important away goal against the La Liga leaders in the Champions League Round of 16 first leg in Bucharest.
It was an ultra-tight affair with Diego Simeone's men their usual organised selves, but Giroud, who replaced Tammy Abraham in the starting line-up this evening, did manage to break the deadlock with a superb bicycle kick.
The ball flicked up off Mario Hermoso's foot and Giroud sprung off the ground to find the bottom corner with a superb overhead kick on the 68th minute.
It looked as though the goal would be ruled out with Giroud in an offside position when the ball was played, but upon a lengthy VAR review lasting almost three minutes, it was given.
BT Sport's resident former referee Walton explained the decision. He said: "The VAR was deliberating whether the pass from the defender was a deliberate play on the ball or a deflection.
"If it was a deflection then Giroud would have still been in an offside position, but they agreed it was a deliberate play on the ball that played Giroud onside.”
And what an important goal that could be for Chelsea ahead of the second leg at Stamford Bridge on March 17.
That away goal will give Chelsea a real advantage, particularly with Atletico usually setting up to defend and play on the counter.
Simeone's men will now be forced to search for a goal when the two teams meet in London for the second leg, and that might just play into the hands of Thomas Tuchel's men, who remain unbeaten since the German head coach arrived towards the end of last month.
