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The Definitive Angle: MLS Matchday 4

PRO media , min read

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

Matchday 4 overview
There were eight Video Reviews during Matchday 4.

RBNY vs ORL: Penalty kick

Outcome: After review, Orlando #6 [Robin Jansson] fouled New York #13 [Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting] inside the penalty area.

The final decision was penalty [to New York Red Bulls].

Length of Review: 2:28

PRO’s opinion: Jansson (ORL) made contact on Choupo-Moting’s (RBNY) Achilles without playing the ball. The referee was correct to award a penalty kick after video review.

TOR vs CHI: No goal

Outcome: After review, Chicago #7 [Maren Haile-Selassie] fouled Toronto #1 [Sean Johnson], prior to the goal by Chicago #9 [Hugo Cuypers].

The final decision was no goal and a direct free kick to Toronto.

Length of Review: 2:34

PRO’s opinion: Haile-Selassie (CHI) held the arm of Johnson (TOR) and prevented him from moving into a position to attempt a save. The referee was correct to disallow the goal and award a direct free kick after video review.

DC vs MTL: No goal

Outcome: D.C. #20 [Christian Benteke] committed an attacker handball offense in the process of scoring a goal.

The final decision was that the goal [for D.C. United] was disallowed. Play restarted with a direct free kick [to CF Montréal].

Length of review: 2:10

PRO’s opinion: Benteke (DC) controlled the ball with his chest first, and then it struck his arm before going on to score. The referee was correct to disallow the goal for an attacker handball after video review.

HOU vs RSL: Offside

Outcome: After review, Houston #10 [Ezequiel Ponce] committed an offside offense when he interfered with Salt Lake #1’s [Rafael Cabral] ability to defend before the goal by Houston #8 [Amine Bassi].

The final decision was offside and an indirect free kick [to Real Salt Lake].

Length of Review: 3:53

PRO’s opinion: At the moment when Bassi (HOU) took a shot at goal, Ponce (HOU) was moving away from the goal but in a clear offside position and in the line of vision of goalkeeper Cabral (RSL). This had an impact on the goalkeeper’s attempt to save the ball, as his dive to the right was delayed until after the ball passed by Ponce from a close distance. The goal was disallowed for offside interfering with an opponent after review.

SKC vs MIN: No penalty

Outcome: After review, Kansas #24 [Joaquín Fernández] did not commit a punishable handball offense when he blocked the shot by Minnesota #7 [Sang Bin Jeong] inside the penalty area.

The final decision was no penalty and a drop ball [to Sporting Kansas City].

Length of review: 1:24

PRO’s opinion: The referee awarded a penalty because he believed the ball had struck Fernández’s (SKC) right arm, which was away from his body creating a barrier. The VAR determined that the ball struck Fernández’s head and not the arm. The referee was correct to rescind the penalty kick after video review.

STL vs SEA: No penalty

Outcome: After review, Seattle #18 [Obed Vargas] committed a punishable handball offense before the penalty kick was awarded.

The final decision was no penalty and a direct free kick [to St Louis CITY].

Length of review: 2:46

PRO’s opinion: Before Henry Kessler (STL) kicked the leg of Vargas (SEA) and tripped him inside the penalty area, Joakim Nilsson (STL) touched the ball in the prior challenge, and then Vargas deliberately controlled the ball with his arm. The referee was correct to rescind the penalty and award a direct free kick for the handball offense after video review.

PHI vs NSH: No penalty

Outcome: After review, Nashville #2 [Daniel Lovitz] did not foul Philadelphia #33 [Quinn Sullivan] inside the penalty area.

The final decision was no penalty.

Length of Review: 3:32

PRO’s opinion: Lovitz (NSH) slid on the ground as Sullivan (PHI) cut the ball back in the opposite direction. There was contact between the two players and Sullivan went to ground. The VAR determined that Lovitz initiated contact with Sullivan when he made contact with his leg to his opponent’s knee. The referee maintained his original decision of no penalty, believing the direction of the challenge from Lovitz was in front of, and not deliberately into, his opponent. Lovitz took a risk by going to ground with his leg in the air. This was a tripping offense, and a penalty should have been awarded.

PHI vs NSH: Penalty kick

Outcome: After review, Philadelphia #5 [Jakob Glesnes] fouled Nashville #10 [Hany Mukhtar] inside the penalty area.

The final decision was penalty kick [to Nashville].

Length of Review: 2:44

PRO’s opinion: Mukhtar (NSH) headed the ball toward goal and was then challenged from behind by Glesnes (PHI), who was late as he attempted to play the ball and made head-to-head contact. The VAR determined that Glesnes committed an offense by charging Mukhtar in the back. Due to the subjective nature of the upper body challenge, PRO would have preferred that no review be initiated.

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