The Definitive Angle: MLS Matchday 20

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

Matchday 20 overview
There were seven Video Reviews during Matchday 20.

MTL vs DC: Penalty kick

Outcome: After review, D.C. #6 [Keisuke Kurokawa] committed a punishable handball offense inside the penalty area.

The final decision was a penalty kick [to CF Montréal].

Length of Review: 1:41

PRO’s opinion: Kurokawa (DC) deliberately raised his arms above his head and made contact with the ball inside the penalty area. The referee was correct to award a penalty kick after video review.

ORL vs CIN: No penalty

Outcome: After review, Orlando #4 [David Brekalo] did not foul Cincinnati #10 [Evander] inside the penalty area.

The final decision was no penalty and an indirect free kick [to Orlando City]. A yellow card was issued to Cincinnati #10 for simulation.

Length of Review: 2:03

PRO’s opinion: Brekalo (ORL) reached for a loose ball and put his foot on the ground making no contact with Evander. The attacker then initiated contact by hooking his foot to the leg of Brekalo. The referee was correct to rescind the penalty and issue a yellow card for simulation after video review.

HOU vs LA: Red card (DOGSO)

Outcome: After review, Los Angeles #25 [Emiro Garces] denied Houston #11 [Lawrence Ennali] an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.

The final decision was a red card to Los Angeles #25 and a direct free kick [to Houston Dynamo].

Length of Review: 1:53

PRO’s opinion: Garces (LA) pulled the shoulder of Ennali (HOU), impacting his ability to advance on goal, and also made contact with his legs, which tripped him. With only the LA Galaxy goalkeeper, JT Marcinkowski, ahead of him, Ennali was denied an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. The referee was correct to issue a red card after video review.

NSH vs MIA: No goal (encroachment)

Outcome: After review, Miami #3 [Sergio Reguilon] encroached inside the penalty area prior to Miami #10 [Leo Messi] taking a penalty kick, and directly impacted play when he scored a goal from the rebound.

The final decision was no goal and an indirect free kick [to Nashville].

Length of Review: 1:49

PRO’s opinion: After Messi’s (MIA) penalty was saved by Brian Schwake (NSH), the rebound fell to Reguilon (MIA), who had encroached inside the penalty area before the kick was taken and had a direct impact on play. The referee was correct to disallow the goal after video review.

LAFC vs SD: No goal (attacker handball)

Outcome: After review, Los Angeles #99 [Denis Bouanga] committed an attacker handball offense in the process of scoring a goal.

The final decision was that the goal [for Los Angeles Football Club] was disallowed. Play restarted with a direct free kick [to San Diego FC].

Length of Review: 1:49

PRO’s opinion: After the San Diego goalkeeper, CJ dos Santos, missed the ball, it bounced up off the ground and touched the arm of Bouanga (LAFC), who immediately scored. The referee was correct to disallow the goal for an attacker handball offense after video review.

As a reminder, while this would not have been penalized if the ball struck the arm of a defender in this manner, the Laws of the Game are clear when it comes to attacker handballs: “It is an offense if a player scores in the opponents’ goal directly from their hand/arm, even if accidental, including by the goalkeeper.”

This is a factual decision and the VAR/referee only need to conclude whether the ball touched the arm or not.

COL vs SKC: No penalty (offside)

Outcome: After review, there was a tripping foul in the penalty area by Kansas City #30 [Stefan Cleveland], but prior to that, Colorado #9 [Rafael Navarro] committed an offside offense.

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

Length of Review: 2:57

PRO’s opinion: Navarro (COL) was in an offside position when the ball was played forward and deflected by Wyatt Meyer (SKC). The attacker gained an advantage in the buildup to the penalty area incident where Cleveland (SKC) tripped Georgi Minoungou (COL). The referee was correct to award an indirect free kick after video review for the offside offense that happened first.

LAFC vs SD: Penalty kick

Outcome: After review, Los Angeles #5 [Ryan Porteous] committed a punishable handball offense inside the penalty area.

The final decision was a penalty kick [to San Diego FC].

Length of Review: 0:42

PRO’s opinion: From a corner kick, Jeppe Tverskov (SD) headed the ball toward goal, and Porteous (LAFC) extended his left arm away from his body, touching the ball with his left hand. The referee was correct to award 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.