Flying Weasel
07 Aug 2003, 01:40 AM
What's with all the Yellow Cards?
In the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup, 38 yellow card cautions were given out in just 8 matches. That's an average of 4.8 yellow cards per match! That surely is well above the average for matches within the respective leagues (MLS, A-League, Pro-Select, PDL, etc.). Why?
Is it the consequence of the Davids trying to do whatever it takes to slay the Goliaths and trying to prove they're not going to back down? The two MLS v MLS fourth round matches had only 3 yellows cards and 1 yellow card, both below the average. So maybe that's part of it.
When you look at the entire tournament, first thru fourth round, the average is 4.2 yellow cards per match by my count. So it's not just games with MLS teams taking on lower level teams in which the yellow cards are flying. Of course, many of these other matches still involve teams from different levels.
Or are more yellow cards more the result of the single elimination situation--knowing there's no tomorrow and taking no chances or making nervous mistakes?
I'm not sure how many more fouls are being committed than normal. USOC matches seem to be averaging a little over 30 fouls per match (both teams combined). But I'm not sure what would be a normal average.
In the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup, 38 yellow card cautions were given out in just 8 matches. That's an average of 4.8 yellow cards per match! That surely is well above the average for matches within the respective leagues (MLS, A-League, Pro-Select, PDL, etc.). Why?
Is it the consequence of the Davids trying to do whatever it takes to slay the Goliaths and trying to prove they're not going to back down? The two MLS v MLS fourth round matches had only 3 yellows cards and 1 yellow card, both below the average. So maybe that's part of it.
When you look at the entire tournament, first thru fourth round, the average is 4.2 yellow cards per match by my count. So it's not just games with MLS teams taking on lower level teams in which the yellow cards are flying. Of course, many of these other matches still involve teams from different levels.
Or are more yellow cards more the result of the single elimination situation--knowing there's no tomorrow and taking no chances or making nervous mistakes?
I'm not sure how many more fouls are being committed than normal. USOC matches seem to be averaging a little over 30 fouls per match (both teams combined). But I'm not sure what would be a normal average.