The Definitive Angle: MLS Week 15
The Definitive Angle is PRO’s analysis of the week’s Video Review use in MLS.
Week 15 overview
There were two Video Reviews during Week 15.
NE vs MTL: Review for goal (offside in APP) – not given
What Happened: Midway through the first half, a goal was scored by Carles Gil (NE) and awarded by the on-field match officials.
The VAR checked the footage of the goal and could see that an offside offense had been committed in the APP when Gustavo Bou (NE) had moved back to the ball, which had been played forward by teammate Wilfrid Kaptoum (NE) but did so from an offside position.
The on-field judgment was made more complicated because after Kaptoum had played the ball forward, Gil had moved close to it, and any touch on the ball from Gil would have played Bou onside. The goal was correctly disallowed for offside.
On-field decision: Goal.
Type of review: No goal – offside.
Final decision after review: No goal.
Length of review: 1:36
PRO’s Opinion: This was a good and efficient use of the Video Review system to rectify a clear and obvious error.
LAFC vs VAN: Review for goal (offside in APP) – given
What Happened: A goal was scored by Carlos Vela (LAFC) but was disallowed by the on-field officials due to offside. The VAR saw that Vela was being played onside by defender Cristián Gutiérrez (VAN), whose right foot was clearly deeper than any part of Vela when the ball was played through to Vela.
It is also important to note that Vela’s teammate Diego Rossi (LAFC) was in an offside position; however, at no point did he commit an offside offense, as he did not touch or play the ball nor gain an advantage or interfere with an opponent.
On-field decision: Offside.
Type of review: Goal.
Final decision after review: Goal.
Length of review: 1:39.
PRO’s Opinion: This was a correct and efficient use of the Video Review system.