The Definitive Angle: MLS Week 32

September 21, 2024September 21, 2024 PRO media MLS, The Definitive Angle min read

The Definitive Angle is PRO’s analysis of the week’s Video Review use in MLS.

Week 32 overview
There were eight Video Reviews during Week 32.

ATL vs NSH: Offside (no goal)

What happened: After review, Nashville #10 [Hany Mukhtar] was in an offside position during the buildup to the goal by Nashville #9 [Sam Surridge]. Nashville #10 then interfered with play when he touched the ball.

The final decision was offside and an indirect free kick [to Atlanta United].

Length of Review: 1:45

PRO’s opinion: In the buildup to the goal, Alex Muyl (NSH) passed the ball to Mukhtar (NSH), who was in an offside position before he passed it back, for Muyl to cross into the penalty area, where a goal was scored by Surridge (NSH). The referee was correct to disallow the goal for the offside offense after video review.

MIA vs PHI: Offside (no goal)

What happened: After review, Miami #10 [Lionel Messi] was in an offside position during the buildup to the goal by Miami #9 [Luis Suárez]. Miami #10 then interfered with play when he touched the ball.

The final decision was offside and an indirect free kick [to Philadelphia Union].

Length of Review: 2:28

PRO’s opinion: Sergio Busquets (MIA) passed the ball to Messi (MIA), who was in an offside position and interfered with play before finding Suárez (MIA), who then scored a goal. The referee was correct to disallow the goal for the offside offense, after video review.

DC vs NYC: Offside (no goal)

What happened: After review, DC #97 [Christopher McVey] committed an offside offense when he interfered with New York City #6’s [James Sands] ability to defend, prior to the goal by DC #10 [Gabriel Pirani].

The final decision was offside, and play restarted with an indirect free kick [to New York City].

Length of review: 4:07

PRO’s opinion: McVey (DC) was in an offside position on the initial shot by Aaron Herrera (DC), which was blocked, and the ball deflected to Pirani (DC), who touched it, and this reset the offside picture. At this new kickpoint, McVey was no longer in an offside position and so could not commit the offside offense of interfering with an opponent when he blocked Sands’ path. A review for an offside offense should not have been recommended. However, McVey did block Sands’ path while not being within playing distance of the ball and prevented him from having an opportunity to defend or challenge for the ball. This was an infraction, and the goal still should have been disallowed, but for this reason.

DC vs NYC: Penalty

What happened: After review, New York City #6’s [James Sands] fouled DC #21 [Ted Ku-Dipietro] inside the penalty area.

The final decision was a penalty kick [to D.C. United].

Length of Review: 2:29

PRO’s opinion: After he had crossed the ball toward the middle of the penalty area, Ku-Dipietro (DC) was challenged by a lunging Sands (NYC), who made contact on Ku-Dipietro’s foot without playing the ball. This was a clear foul, and the referee correctly awarded a penalty kick after video review.

STL vs MIN: Penalty

What happened: After review, St Louis #22 [Kyle Hiebert] committed a punishable handball offense inside the penalty area.

The final decision was penalty kick [to Minnesota United].

Length of review: 3:05

PRO’s opinion: This was a handball offense by Hiebert (STL), who had jumped with his arm up above his shoulder. He made his body unnaturally bigger in an attempt to block the ball after Michael Boxall (MIN) won the header. The referee was correct to award a penalty kick.

STL vs MIN: No penalty kick

What happened: After review, Minnesota #28 [Jefferson Diaz] fouled St Louis #9 [João Klauss] outside the penalty area.

The final decision was a direct free kick [to St Louis CITY].

Length of Review: 4:16

PRO’s opinion: Diaz (MIN) initiated a hold on Klauss (STL) just outside the penalty area. Klauss turned to enter the penalty area and went to ground. Using the camera angles available, the referee determined that there was no conclusive evidence that the holding continued into the penalty area and correctly chose to retain his original decision of a direct free kick.

COL vs POR: Red card (violent conduct)

What happened: After review, Colorado #77 [Darren Yapi] committed an act of violent conduct on Portland #13 [Dario Zuparic].

The final decision was a red card to Colorado #77 for violent conduct. Play restarted with a direct free kick [to Portland Timbers].

Length of Review: 2:56

PRO’s opinion: Yapi (COL), from a position behind Zuparic (POR), reached out and made deliberate contact with the back of his opponent off the ball. The referee saw a clear action to strike the opponent and issued a red card for violent conduct. The referee maintained his original decision after review because he did not see clear evidence that there was no striking motion.

SEA vs SKC: Offside (no goal)

What happened: After review, Seattle #13 [Jordan Morris] committed an offside offense when he interfered with Kansas City #29’s [Tim Melia] ability to defend.

The final decision was offside, and play restarted with an indirect free kick [to Sporting Kansas City].

Length of review: 2:01

PRO’s opinion: Morris (SEA) reached for the ball after Cristian Roldan (SEA) had headed it goalward. He was in an offside position when Roldan first made contact with the ball; whether Morris touched the ball was difficult to determine from the available angles. However, if he did, he was offside for interfering with play. If he didn’t, his action had an impact on Melia (SKC), as he challenged the goalkeeper for the ball and would be interfering with an opponent. Either way, it’s an offside offense, and the referee was correct to disallow the goal and restart play with an indirect free kick.

Please note: These videos do not contain audio. They are a recording of the screen as viewed by the VAR in real-time.