The Definitive Angle: MLS Week 18
The Definitive Angle is PRO’s analysis of the week’s Video Review use in MLS.
Week 18 overview
There were 10 Video Reviews during Week 18.
DC vs TOR: Penalty kick and yellow card (stopping a promising attack)
What happened: After review, Toronto #15 [Nicksoen Gomis] fouled DC #16 [Garrison Tubbs] inside the penalty area.
The final decision was penalty [to D.C. United] and yellow card [and subsequent red card for a second yellow card] to Toronto #15.
Length of Review: 1:37
PRO’s opinion: This was a clear holding offense. Gomis (TOR) held Tubbs (DC) with both arms around his midsection and prevented him from taking an advantageous position. The hold was blatant and cynical in nature. This was a good, efficient use of the Video Review system to rectify a clear and obvious error.
MIA vs STL: Goal
What happened: After review, Miami #18 [Jordi Alba] was onside when the ball was passed to him by Miami #24 [Julian Gressel] before he scored a goal.
The final decision was goal [to Inter Miami].
Length of Review: 1:25
PRO’s opinion: After Alba (MIA) scored, the assistant referee raised the flag for an offside offense.; however, he was onside when the ball was last played by a teammate, Gressel (MIA). After video review, the referee awarded a goal. This was a good and efficient use of the Video Review system to overturn a clear and obvious error.
What happened: After review, Montréal #11 [Ariel Lassiter] struck Philadelphia #8 [José Martínez] with his elbow with excessive force.
The final decision was a red card to Lassiter for violent conduct. Play restarted with a direct free kick [to Philadelphia Union].
Length of Review: 2:22
PRO’s opinion: Lassiter (MTL) initially made contact with his body on the body of Martínez (PHI) and then raised his arm, initiating contact with his chin using his elbow after Martínez had played the ball. The referee, who only saw the contact with the body, awarded a direct free kick and issued a yellow card for the reckless nature of the challenge. The contact from the elbow was made using excessive force and brutality. This is violent conduct and a good use of the Video Review system to reach the correct outcome.
What happened: After review, Chicago #5 [Rafael Czichos] committed a punishable handball offense inside the penalty area.
The final decision was penalty kick [to LA Galaxy].
Length of review: 1:27
PRO’s opinion: While Czichos’ (CHI) arm movement was initially normal for jumping, he kept his arm extended away from his body and created a barrier for the ball that blocked the header by Maya Yoshida (LA). This was a good, efficient use of the Video Review system to rectify a clear and obvious error.
NSH vs NE: Penalty kick and yellow card (stopping a promising attack)
What happened: After review, New England #3 [Xavier Arreaga] committed a punishable handball offense inside the penalty area.
The final decision was penalty kick [to Nashville] and a yellow card to New England #3 for stopping a promising attack.
Length of review: 3:33
PRO’s opinion: Arreaga (NE) spread out his legs and arms and made himself bigger in order to block the shot by Shaq Moore (NSH). The ball struck Arreaga’s arm, which was away from his body and had created a barrier for the ball. The referee awarded a penalty and issued a red card because he determined that this handball offense had denied an obvious goal. However, goalkeeper Aljaz Ivacic (NE) was in position behind Arreaga and had a credible opportunity to defend this shot on goal. The referee rescinded the red card for denial of an obvious goal and issued a yellow card for stopping a promising attack. This was a good use of the Video Review system to reach the correct outcome.
POR vs HOU: Offside (no goal)
What happened: After review, Houston #18 [Ibrahim Aliyu] was in an offside position when Houston #20 [Coco Carrasquilla] made a pass to him during the buildup to the goal. Houston #18 then interfered with play when he touched the ball.
The final decision was offside and an indirect free kick [to Portland Timbers].
Length of Review: 1:16
PRO’s opinion: The referee was correct to disallow the goal scored by Sebastian Kowalczyk (HOU) because Aliyu (HOU) 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, Salt Lake #11 [Andrés Gómez] was onside when the ball was passed to him by Salt Lake #9 [Cristian Arango] in the buildup to the goal by Salt Lake #29 [Anderson Julio].
The final decision was goal [to Real Salt Lake].
Length of Review: 2:42
PRO’s opinion: After Julio (RSL) scored, the assistant referee raised the flag for an offside offense by Gómez (RSL); however, Gómez was onside when the ball was last played by a teammate, Arango (RSL). After video review, the referee awarded a goal. This was a good and efficient use of the Video Review system to overturn a clear and obvious error.
What happened: After review, Austin #4 [Brendan Hines-Ike] committed a punishable handball offense inside the penalty area before Austin scored a goal at the other end.
The final decision was penalty kick [to Real Salt Lake].
Length of review: 4:34
PRO’s opinion: Justen Glad (RSL) headed the ball and it struck the arm of Hines-Ike (ATX), who had raised his arm parallel to the ground and away from his body. The ball was then cleared, and Austin FC went on a counterattack, and Jáder Obrian (ATX) scored a goal. Hines-Ike moved his arm to the ball and, in doing so, made his body unnaturally bigger. This was a good use of the Video Review system to rectify a clear and obvious error.
VAN vs COL: No penalty kick
What happened: After review, Vancouver #2 [Mathias Laborda] did not foul Colorado #91 [Kévin Cabral] inside the penalty area.
The final decision was no penalty and a drop ball [to Vancouver Whitecaps].
Length of Review: 1:27
PRO’s opinion: While there was contact between Cabral (COL) and Laborda (VAN), which forced Cabral to ground, there was no punishable action by Laborda (VAN). Cabral ran into the Laborda, and this was not a foul. The referee was correct to rescind the penalty. This was a good, efficient use of the Video Review system to rectify a clear and obvious error.
ATL vs CLT: Goal
What happened: After review, the ball, which deflected off Atlanta #3 [Derrick Williams], crossed the goal line.
The final decision was goal [to Charlotte FC].
Length of review: 3:07
PRO’s opinion: With no camera on the goal line, the best angle to use was the Left 18 camera. The ball was in the air, which makes the decision of a clear goal or not more difficult. While the entire ball may have crossed the goal line, PRO feels that this did not meet the threshold of a clear and obvious error and would have preferred that the review had not been recommended.
Please note: These videos do not contain audio. They are a recording of the screen as viewed by the VAR in real-time.