RSL vs. The Cast of "Cheers" P/B/P

Good points but I really don't see the hand ball on Sabo. If there was a definite picture or angle that showed so be it but I have yet to see it. If it was blatant the NE players would have gone apesh$t but I don't think that was the case.

From what I see it hits Sabo in the chest first and 'may', let me emphasize 'may' roll over to his right arm and even so it's even less of touch as Beltran last game.

I was on vacation so I could only read twitter/big-soccer and see highlights. It's interesting to watch the game after that.

We absolutely deserved the 3 points. The first half possession was some of our best all year and it was a shame we didn't score more (but I give NE credit - they're like Toronto, better than their record)...and Reis kept them in it. They had some dangerous chances, but we had more. Just like with Toronto, and it's fair that we came out ahead.

On the 'hot calls' I think Johnson's red was valid, Sabo's first goal was shoulder, and NE's red was not red (but I'm still relieved Olave's leg wasn't broken).

Biggest positives for me were that we were resolute down a man and still generated offense (albeit with counter risks) - and the fact that Javier Morales delivered several "Send the Defense directly to Hell" passes or serves.

We're averaging 2 points a match and we've played a dense schedule and we're not in form yet. There's room for optimism here people.

Optimism on these boards? Who'd have thunk?

Just re-watching the game and I have to give props to the lady willing to breast-feed on the front row at 09:44 (with a blanket, of course). I bet not many people watching on MLS Live have seen that outside of "bring-my-baby-to-the-game" Utah. Viva family values!

An ad executive from Cream o' Weber is missing a golden opportunity.

it's more of an off white opportunity...

horse creeps me out more and more every time I see it.

The horse was great this time around. She looked a bit star struck being by the Colonel.

Does the horse know something we don't about the Colonel? Tastes like chicken maybe?

I see all of the conversation about the red card against NE being given for a cleat to Olave's leg that may not have happened. Has it been published anywhere that this was the reason. When it first happened I believed that he got the red for the embellishment trying to gain advantage. I know the league addressed it preseason.

Taken by my photographer Chris Nicoll: http://www.carbonimagery.com/p1067067972/h3fde79aa#h3fde79aa

So we can put the debate to bed...it was definitely a handball. With that in mind, it happened so fast and it was so packed in the box that there's no way the ref could have seen it. And there's no way it could have been intentional because the play happened so quickly there's no way Sabo could have put his arm up in time. I have no problem with this no-call, even if it had gone against RSL.

Very nice. I agree.

Expect to Olave receive a fine or suspension for simulation

Not sure that picture is as definitive as you think it is. There is no guarantee that the ball is actually making contact in that picture. It could be 2-3 inches in front of him having bounced off his shoulder and the angle the photo was taken at makes it look like a handball. Photographs can be deceiving.

It was definitely a foul, just not a red card worthy foul.

I saw the before and after shots before Chris deleted them (he only posts his favorite game photos) which were taken rapid-fire so you can click through them like going frame-by-frame through a movie...there was no doubt that it hit his arm. Not that it matters anyway - there was no call and I don't think there should have been one. But yes, it definitively hit his arm....somebody asked for proof and I provided it.

What's funny is I think you can see from telecast highlights that it was a deliberate hand ball, I was very surprised it was not called.

I'm not saying it wasn't a handball, I was just pointing out that the picture by itself was not absolute proof of it happening. I think it probably was a handball and I even think it should have been called. I'm not too worried about it though. I also think that the shove on Espy in the box should have been called and resulted in a red card and a penalty kick. So, the ref not calling the handball just evens things out somewhat.

that pic doesn't help your argument, IMO.

That makes it look like its his shoulder, not arm

I was never too good at anatomy, but I've never considered the bicep to be part of the shoulder.

Hit his arm, it's o.k. to admit it, does not make you any less of a Saborio fan.

this is the point Aero was trying to make, this angle is very poor. Could the ball be hitting his bicep? Very easily (and from the video it looks to be true) but using that as your sole evidence isn't convincing.

Based on the angle, the ball could easily be glancing off his shoulder, not touching him at all, or even connected to his tongue. We have no idea based on this picture alone

Yet when you watch the play in its whole Sabo's arm does come from right to left indicating he was attempting to get the ball back to his feet.