The Definitive Angle: NWSL Week 13
The Definitive Angle is PRO’s analysis of the week’s Video Review use in NWSL.
Week 13 overview
There were three Video Review during Week 13.
GFC vs SD: Yellow card for reckless challenge
What happened: After review, Gotham #22 [Mandy Freeman] made contact with San Diego #2 [Abby Dahlkemper] on the top of her foot. There was no excessive force, and this was not serious foul play.
The final decision was a yellow card to Gotham #22 for a reckless challenge. Play restarted with direct free kick [to San Diego Wave].
Length of review: 3:45
PRO’s opinion: The point of contact was to the ankle with studs, and there were considerations for serious foul play. However, there was no malice or brutality used by Freeman (GFC), and the short approach and the lack of force used created mixed considerations. This was a subjective decision that didn’t meet the threshold for endangering the safety of her opponent for the referee. In situations like this, the referee always makes the final decision.
LA vs LOU: Penalty kick
What happened: After review, LA #6 [Megan Reid] fouled Louisville #23 [Elexa Bahr] inside the penalty area.
The final decision was penalty kick [to Racing Louisville] and a yellow card to LA #6 for a reckless challenge.
Length of review: 1:40
PRO’s opinion: Reid (LA) stepped on top of Bahr’s (LOU) foot after Bahr had played the ball, and tripped her. The referee didn’t have a good viewing angle in real-time but correctly awarded a penalty kick and showed a yellow card for a reckless challenge after video review.
What happened: After review, Louisville #3 [Arin Wright] fouled Seattle #9 [Jordyn Huitema] inside the penalty area.
The final decision was a penalty kick [to Seattle Reign] and a red card to Louisville #3 for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.
Length of review: 2:54
PRO’s opinion: Wright (LOU) committed a holding offense that started outside and continued inside the penalty area after Huitema (SEA) had gained a position on the defender. Wright made no attempt to play or challenge for the ball inside the penalty area and fouled Huitema, which denied the attacker an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. This was a good use of the Video Review system to overturn 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.