The Definitive Angle: MLS Matchday 15

by

PRO Media
2 Min Read
Video Review quad screen

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

Matchday 15 overview
There were three Video Reviews during Matchday 15.

RSL vs VAN: Penalty kick

Outcome: After review, Real Salt #9 [William Agada] committed a punishable handball offense inside the penalty area.

The final decision was a penalty kick [to Vancouver Whitecaps].

Length of review: 1:32

PRO’s opinion: Agada (RSL) jumped and attempted to head the ball. It went beyond him, where it was met by Sam Adekugbe (VAN), who headed the ball, and as Agada came back down, he opened up his arms and made his body unnaturally bigger. The ball hit his outstretched arm, which acted as a barrier and stopped the ball from going toward the goal. The referee was correct to award a penalty kick after video review.

SKC vs NE: No goal (offside)

Outcome: After review, New England #17 [Ignatius Ganago] was in an offside position when New England #16 [Wyatt Omsberg] shot at goal. New England #17 then interfered with play when he touched the ball before he scored.

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

Length of Review: 2:38

PRO’s opinion: The decision on the field to disallow the goal due to an offside offense was correct, and this was an unnecessary review. In their analysis, the VAR and AVAR focused on the position of Omsberg (NE) and Ganago (NE) at the moment Luis Diaz Espinoza (NE) crossed the ball, and not when Omsberg shot at goal. The referee was correct to maintain the decision made on the field and disallow the goal for the offside offense after video review.

NYC vs CHI: Penalty kick

Outcome: After review, Chicago #42 [Dje D’Avilla] fouled New York #26 [Agustín Ojeda] inside the penalty area.

The final decision was a penalty [to New York City FC] and a (second) yellow card for a reckless challenge – and subsequent red card – to Chicago #42.

Length of Review: 3:40

PRO’s opinion: While D’Avilla (CHI) went into the challenge with his studs showing, he was successful in playing the ball. The referee awarded a penalty kick because he determined that D’Avilla played the ball in a dangerous manner, and there was contact on Ojeda’s (NYC) shin after he had touched the ball. This is a subjective call, and even though D’Avilla’s studs were showing, they made contact on the top of the ball, and there was no subsequent contact with the studs on Ojeda’s leg. PRO feels this was a fair challenge and would have preferred no penalty kick to be awarded.

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