The Definitive Angle is PRO’s analysis of the week’s Video Review use in MLS.
Matchday 11 overview There were eight Video Reviews during Matchday 11.
MIA vs RBNY: Goal (no offside)
Outcome: After review, no offside offense was committed by Miami #57 [Marcelo Weigandt] before he scored a goal.
The final decision was a goal [to Inter Miami].
Length of review: 2:11
PRO’s opinion: Before Weigandt (MIA) scored from the rebound after his initial header was saved, he was not in an offside position when Fafà Picault (MIA) crossed the ball into the penalty area. The referee was correct to award the goal after video review.
MTL vs PHI: No penalty
Outcome: After review, Philadelphia #4 [Jovan Lukic] did not foul Montréal #25 [Dante Sealy] inside the penalty area.
The final decision was no penalty and play restarted with a throw in [to Philadelphia Union].
Length of Review: 2:48
PRO’s opinion: While there was contact by Lukic (PHI) on Sealy (MTL), it came after the attacker already had lost his footing. The contact was not why Sealy’s progress to goal ended, and the referee maintained his original decision after video review. This review was unnecessary as it was not a clear and obvious error.
CHI vs ORL: Red card (DOGSO)
Outcome: After review, Chicago #1 [Chris Brady] fouled Orlando #13 [Duncan McGuire] outside the penalty area.
The final decision was a direct free kick [to Orlando City] and a red card to Chicago #1 for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.
Length of Review: 2:37
PRO’s opinion: Initially, the referee awarded a penalty kick after Brady (CHI) made contact with his body into McGuire’s (ORL) body. Given the nature of the challenge (contact with the leg/knee in the midsection), he also determined that this was not an attempt to play or challenge for the ball and issued a red card for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. The VAR recommended a review because the contact occurred outside the penalty area, and the referee was correct to award a direct free kick after video review. He was also correct to maintain his decision to award a red card because the foul denied an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.
SEA vs STL: No penalty kick
Outcome: After review, St Louis #4 [Joakim Nilsson] did not commit a punishable handball offense inside the penalty area.
The final decision was no penalty, and play was restarted with a drop ball.
Length of Review: 3:47
PRO’s opinion: The referee allowed play to continue because he determined that the shot from Obed Vargas (SEA) struck Nilsson’s (STL) body before hitting his arm. The referee was incorrect to maintain his decision of no penalty after video review. The ball continued on the same general trajectory toward the goal after it had hit Nilsson’s thigh and struck the arm, which was away from his body, and made him unnaturally bigger. This was not a successful block with the body because there was no clear change in the direction of the ball. A penalty should have been awarded.
SJ vs POR: No goal (offside)
Outcome: After review, San Jose #9 [Cristian Arango] was in an offside position when the ball was passed to him by San Jose #94 [Vítor Costa]. San Jose #9 then interfered with play when he touched the ball before scoring.
The final decision was offside and an indirect free kick [to Portland Timbers].
Length of Review: 2:34
PRO’s opinion: At the moment the ball was played to Arango (SJ), he appeared to be in an offside position. However, the camera angle was not perfectly in line and there was separation between Arango and the second-to-last opponent, Finn Surman (POR). Although PRO would prefer more definitive video evidence of the offside position before a VAR intervention, the final decision was likely correct.
SJ vs POR: No penalty
Outcome: After review, Portland #24 [David Ayala] did not foul San Jose #34 [Beau Leroux] inside the penalty area.
The final decision was no penalty and play restarted with a drop ball [to Portland Timbers].
Length of Review: 2:43
PRO’s opinion: Ayala (POR) was unsuccessful in playing the ball when he attempted to block Leroux’s (SJ) progress, and the referee awarded a penalty for a tripping foul. Although there was no foot-to-foot contact, there was some contact by Ayala’s left heel on Leroux’s knee, and that was the impact that led to the attacker going to ground. Based on this contact and its impact, PRO would have preferred the VAR to confirm the on-field decision of penalty.
VAN vs RSL: No penalty
Outcome: After review, Vancouver #20 [Andrés Cubas] did not foul Real Salt Lake #72 [Zavier Gozo] inside the penalty area.
The final decision was no penalty and play restarted with a drop ball [to Vancouver Whitecaps].
Length of Review: 3:02
PRO’s opinion: Cubas (VAN) and Jean-Claude Ngando (VAN) both challenged Gozo (RSL) as the attacker cut inside between the pair. The referee awarded a penalty because he believed that Cubas was unsuccessful in playing the ball with his right leg and made contact with the attacker’s left leg, which forced him to ground. However, Gozo had slipped and there was no contact between Cubas and Gozo. The referee was correct to rescind the penalty after video review.
VAN vs RSL: Penalty kick
Outcome: After review, Vancouver #16 [Sebastian Berhalter] fouled Salt Lake #15 [Justen Glad] inside the penalty area.
The final decision was a penalty [to Real Salt Lake].
Length of Review: 2:58
PRO’s opinion: Berhalter (VAN) held Glad’s (RSL) shirt from behind and also stepped on the ankle and foot using his studs, which prevented him from being able to challenge for the ball at the near post on a corner. The contact forced Glad to the ground, and the referee awarded a penalty kick after video review.
Please note: These videos do not contain audio. They are a recording of the screen as viewed by the VAR in real-time.
