MLS Officiating: it's shit-tastic!

Could you make the case for violent conduct. Off ball foul?
Just a yellow, so that doesn't get reviewed or Discoed.

What's kind of interesting is that the right play was to lay in a deep cross for exactly the guy who was fouled. He got up and made the run and was wide open behind the defense. He would have gotten to the ball and finished into an empty net. But the Orlando player was surprised by how quickly Rooney closed him down and was just trying to get that ball off when he was tackled.
 
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Just a yellow, so that doesn't get reviewed or Discoed.

What's kind of interesting is that the right play was to lay in a deep cross for exactly the guy who was fouled. He got up and made the run and was wide open behind the defense. He would have gotten to the ball and finished into an empty net. But the Orlando player was surprised by how quickly Rooney closed him down and was just trying to get that ball off when he was tackled.
The Orlando player was so bad there - all he had to do was first time the ball to the space - anywhere in the space - like you point out, and it’d have been over, but I think he was so focused on being the hero and scoring a half field shot/goal that he attempted to deke Rooney and get the ball on his right foot. It was selfish and he’s gonna have nightmares about it forever.
 
The Orlando player was so bad there - all he had to do was first time the ball to the space - anywhere in the space - like you point out, and it’d have been over, but I think he was so focused on being the hero and scoring a half field shot/goal that he attempted to deke Rooney and get the ball on his right foot. It was selfish and he’s gonna have nightmares about it forever.
Pretty sure that was Will Johnson. And I couldn't be any happier that it was him.
 
The Orlando player was so bad there - all he had to do was first time the ball to the space - anywhere in the space - like you point out, and it’d have been over, but I think he was so focused on being the hero and scoring a half field shot/goal that he attempted to deke Rooney and get the ball on his right foot. It was selfish and he’s gonna have nightmares about it forever.
I think he just had poor situational awareness. Didn't know that his teammates were behind the defense too and didn't know that Rooney was bearing down on him - until it was too late.
 
Pretty sure that was Will Johnson. And I couldn't be any happier that it was him.
That makes it 1000000x better that it was him, hahahahahaha
Not only was Will Johnson’s psyche shattered on that play, but he took a tackle from a stampeding elephant- I cannot imagine another player that could create as much of a physical presence on a tackle as Rooney does when running at full speed - he’s like a dwarf from middle earth, the mass of a 6’4” man in a 5’9” body.
 
Not only was Will Johnson’s psyche shattered on that play, but he took a tackle from a stampeding elephant- I cannot imagine another player that could create as much of a physical presence on a tackle as Rooney does when running at full speed - he’s like a dwarf from middle earth, the mass of a 6’4” man in a 5’9” body.
There's something beautifully poetic about that
 
I don't know. This was kind of annoying to me. It's very clear on review that Trapp kicked Acosta's leg out from under him. Yes, Unkel was in the wrong place and affected the play too - but the decision isn't as obvious as the article makes it out to be. In fact, I'd say that the reversal is more likely the correct call.

 
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PRO acknowledge "officiating error" on disallowed Crew goal in DC

I think this is exactly right. The video is anything but conclusive. One some view, I kinda sorta see what Gotham Gator Gotham Gator says he see clearly just above, but other viewings make it seem obvious that Unkel caused all the contact, and/or that Acosta even fouled Trapp as Acosta reacted to Unkel bumping into him. It's just not clear, and the kind of BS stuff I knew would happen that made me oppose VAR from the get-go. I have to admit that it has worked much better than I feared, but I still have trouble supporting a review system that often enough increases bad officiating.
Also, the Athletic has an article on this that said the review of this call, plus another later in the first half (a goal that was properly not overturned) lasted a combined 6 minutes, but Unkel only added 4 minutes. I've definitely seen this in other situations as well, and not just in MLS. It should be easily fixed, but it won't.
 
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"In a search for consistency and in an effort to streamline the Video Review process and execution, Major League Soccer and PRO Referees are looking into the feasibility of creating a central Video Operations Room (VOR)."