'Sneaky' Angel Di Maria branded 'disgusting' for 'punching' opponent – but avoids red card
Angel Di Maria was involved in a flashpoint during Benfica's Primeira Liga clash with Sporting CP on Saturday, with the former Manchester United star landing a punch on Pedro Goncalves
Former Manchester United ace Angel Di Maria dodged a sending off despite throwing a punch at Sporting CP's Pedro Goncalves during Saturday's fiery Primeira Liga showdown.
The Argentine star, who had a forgettable stint at Old Trafford, managed to avoid a red card for his antics. After a 13-year absence, Di Maria, now 36, made a comeback to Benfica last summer. His time in Manchester was short-lived; despite his hefty £59.7m transfer fee, United offloaded him after just a year.
Di Maria's contribution of eight league goals this season has been crucial in keeping Benfica neck and neck with their Lisbon rivals Sporting in the title race, setting the stage for a tense battle at Estadio Jose Alvalade. With stakes high, it was no shock when Di Maria and Goncalves got into a heated clash around the 30-minute mark.
READ MORE: Psycho seagulls love watching football matches – and will fly off at final whistle
READ MORE: Footballer Osama Vinladen has brother named Sadam Husein and sister called Georgia Bush
The match did have VAR support, but the officials didn't deem Di Maria's punch worthy of a red card, reports the Mirror. Sporting fans breathed a sigh of relief as their team still clinched victory, thanks to Geny Catamo's dramatic late goal.
Social media was ablaze with reactions, one fan blasting: "Di Maria gets away with so much in this league man," adding, "He punched Goncalves and not even a yellow what a joke.
Another chimed in calling Di Maria "Di Maria is so sneaky," and a third labelled the former PSG star's antics "disgusting". Some argued that a yellow would have sufficed as punishment, rather than a straight red.
Should Man Utd have given Di Maria more time? Let us know in the comments section below.
In the end, Sporting secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over rivals Benfica, to move them four points clear at the top of the table with a game in hand.
Francisco Trincao gave Ruben Amorim's side the lead inside a minute, but Alexander Bah equalised for Benfica before the break. Trincao then netted the winner in stoppage time to hand Sporting a crucial three points.
Sporting now have 11 wins and a draw from their 12 league outings in 2023, putting them in a strong position to claim a second league title under the Portuguese coach.