The Definitive Angle: MLS Week 8
The Definitive Angle is PRO’s analysis of the week’s Video Review use in MLS.
Week 8 overview
There were five Video Reviews during Week 8.
LAFC vs LA: Penalty kick
What happened: After review, White #2 [Miki Yamane – LA Galaxy] tripped Black #99 [Denis Bouanga – Los Angeles FC] inside the penalty area.
The final decision was penalty kick [to Los Angeles FC].
Length of Review: 2:46
PRO’s opinion: Bouanga (LAFC) opened his right leg, initiated contact with Yamane (LA), and then went to ground. This was an act of simulation, and an indirect free kick should have been awarded to LA Galaxy along with the issuing of a yellow card to Bouanga.
NYC vs ATL: Penalty kick
What happened: After review, Red #8 [Tristan Muyumba – Atlanta United] pulled back the arm of Blue #10 [Santiago Rodríguez – New York City FC] inside the penalty area and forced him to ground.
The final decision was penalty kick [to New York City FC].
Length of Review: 3:20
PRO’s opinion: This was a hold initiated by Muyumba (ATL) and the referee was correct in maintaining his original decision.
What happened: After review, White #28 [Benjamin Kikanović – San Jose Earthquakes] was in an offside position when White #6 [Alfredo Morales – San Jose Earthquakes] made a pass to him during the build-up to the goal. White #28 then interfered with play when he touched the ball.
The final decision was offside and an indirect free kick [to Austin FC].
Length of Review: 1:57
PRO’s opinion: The referee was correct to disallow the goal scored by Paul Marie (SJ) because Kikanović (SJ) was in an offside position during the attacking possession phase and interfered with play when he touched the ball. This was a good use of the Video Review system to disallow a goal for an offside situation.
What happened: After review, Green #16 [Hector Jimenez – Austin FC] tripped White #3 [Paul Marie – San Jose Earthquakes] in the build-up to the goal by Green #11 [Jáder Obrian – Austin FC]. This was a foul.
The final decision was no goal and a direct free kick [to San Jose Earthquakes].
Length of Review: 1:44
PRO’s opinion: Jimenez (ATX) clearly kicks Marie’s (SJ’s) foot and does not make contact with the ball. This was a good use of the Video Review system to reach the correct outcome.
What happened: After review, Blue #16 [Joel Waterman – CF Montréal] tripped Green #11 [Albert Rusnák – Seattle Sounders] inside the penalty area.
The final decision was penalty kick [to Seattle Sounders] and a yellow card to Blue #16 for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity with an attempt to play the ball.
Length of Review: 1:48
PRO’s opinion: There was contact on the knee which had an impact on Rusnák (SEA) continuing with the ball. This was a clear foul and an efficient use of the Video Review system to rectify a clear and obvious error.
Please note: These videos do not contain audio. They are a recording of the screen as viewed by the VAR in real-time.