It is. As long as we don't lose by more than 1 goal in Colorado, we keep the Cup. They used to have an away goals rule as well but that got scrapped when we were playing each other 3 times a year because obviously one team would have more chances to score away goals. That might be something to think about bringing back in the future if we keep playing them twice (or any number of even times) a year. EDIT: I see I'm too slow.
I think whenever one side gets to feel all pissed and indignant about the result (like last year), it totally fosters the rivalry. I have no qualms about the tie/retention rule.
Lol. I think the weather was our biggest opponent. Yes, when Javi is going to take a free kick or penalty kick you feel pretty good about our chances. We definitely did deserve the three points because we played so we could get them. We've gotten screwed on plenty of calls this season, including this Colorado game. A call that really sticks out to me is Nat Borchers' perfect goal a while back that was taken back, which was deemed a foul, which it clearly was NOT. Therefore, things have already evened out. I wish Javi could've gotten the goal, too. But I'm also glad Fabi got one. Still, it would've been sweet if it was Javi. Blame the wind. I think this will just rile RSL up for their next game -- this Colorado one. This is the game they needed to have. Obviously that won't work against Monterrey. It's not like they tried to play like that. But 30+ winds with misty ice rain in your face, on the ball and on the field, and freezing temperatures will do that to our game. They all said the weather was most likely a factor. Pray for good weather for the next games, because it's consistently been shown that the elements are an equalizer against RSL. It must because of our style of play. They played well considering the conditions and deserved the three, for their play, and to right past wrong calls. So negative, so willing to throw in the towel, so willing to think badly about our team, so unwilling to believe we truly be a great team. It was just a hard game for reasons beyond Colorado. RSL did well, despite, and that's something to cheer about. They fight through hard, ugly games and persevere. That says a lot about this team. Let's play on a good weather day on real grass next. How about it?
I noted when they threw the streamers before the match that not a single one made it to the touch line. The crowd was certainly loud and rocking the last part of the match. Those hardy fans willing to sit/stand with the wind and rain and snow blowing in our faces seemed to have the motivation to cheer hard for the home team to win. The atmosphere was just electric the last half hour of the match. One thing that was noted about RSL fans on the very first TV broadcast from Rice-Eccles back in 2005 was that we know when to cheer. It is sad that what is looking to be a glaring mistake led to the win. I try hard not to dog on the officials on these boards but can note that some dubious calls seemed to take away points from us a in a few matches at the start of last season. Sometimes mistakes go your way and sometimes they don't and in the long run they often balance out. But indeed it must have been a bitter pill for the Rapids last night. We've scored very late to take away points from them (and in some cases take them out of the playoffs) so many times lately. Reminds me off the early years where Dallas scored late on 3 consecutive visits to Rice-Eccles to take away points (which were rare for us back then!) We just seem to have the Rapids number.
Exactly. For those wishing ill on us for the future, I think things have already balanced out. Nat's perfect goal, for instance, which was taken back because the ref thought it was a foul, which it clearly was not. Nat has had two taken back, not counted, that were legitimate. So, all has evened out, and the better team won.
As a former official... My guess on the offside call is that the AR had to stay with the second-to-last man (near the top of the 18th) until they made their move (after the kick). By the time he was able to get down to the goal line the goal was scored and he didn't have a clear view. That split-second can make a world of difference in your angle. And the rule is, if unsure, don't flag. He did the right thing to not raise his flag even-though replay shows that Espy was clearly off. Hats off to the official for not calling a speculative call (even though it would've been right in this instance). He had to make a decision while running full speed, into the rain, looking sideways and behind a step. No-call was correct.
Poqui good to have you back chiming in on the boards... it has been a while. Lovin' our boys from Argentina on this team. Let's wave the flag proudly!
At the end of the day, we won, so it doesn't matter. We'll take the three points. Isn't that great? We got the three points. 12 points altogether. I don't think that's sunk in yet that we actually won and got the three points last night and have won our first four games. This has been an emotionally draining month so far, and we still have more to go. All I can do is think about Monterrey. It's really all I've been able to think about since we moved on to the Final. I just wanted to get this Colorado game out of the way and concentrate fully on it. But it was a fun game, and I'm glad we won. Glad the Philadelphia game is out of the way, too. Time to move on.
Welcome back Poqui... you are being very kind to last night's officials. I kind of agree with you though, it would be hard to make this call at full speed.
I totally agree with you Poqui Moqui... I've recently started refereeing... That call isn't easy to make... I agree with the no-call as the right call (setting my RSL bias aside)
Except RSL won the other games this season, so they have not yet experienced losing points this season because of poor officiating. There's a clear difference between a ref making a bad call that doesn't change the final outcome of a game and poor officiating that adds or takes away points in the standings.
I don't think it was poor officiating. I think they made the right call. Like the person said above, if the ref doesn't know for sure, then they shouldn't make the call. That's the right call. So I'm happy for that. Despite not liking Baldomero much last night, he really was pretty fair and did a good job. He missed some things committed against us, some fouls, some flopping, but Fabi was offside about a million times. Kreis said after he's not about to tell a striker to not test the offside rule. That's their job. At the end Fabi's persistence paid off and because of him we won. All I can say to that is Es-Pin-Do-La! Colorado resorted to Arabe Unido to try to win, which says a lot about who was controlling the game. And thank goodness we haven't experience losing points this season because of poor officiating, or mistakes, or poor playing, and I hope that continues.
I've enjoyed the time I've spent in Utah. I went to the 2005 qualifier. If I ever ended up moving to Utah, maybe I would switch allegiances. But the Red Bulls currently have Agudelo. My first choice out of all of the players of RSL's and Red Bulls' rosters to be a fanboy of would be Agudelo.
That's an interesting spin you're putting on it but we definitely should expect calls regularly to be blown by the officials when there are only 3 of them and they have such a huge field to cover. With enough money pumped into the game as there is, they ought to do something to improve that aspect of the game by adding more officials and/or adding video review.
Having goal box officials seems like a no-brainer. Advise on penalties/dives/line-calls. Offsides stays with the side judges. Meanwhile, blame Sepp.
UEFA has had the the two assistant refs behind the goal in the champions league. Many have complained that they haven't done anything. When they've had a chance to make a call, they've done nothing.
That's how it works in Soccer...there's too much doubt and grey area for them to step up and tell the CR what to call. Also these are European fans...they have a much different outlook on the game than American fans.
You're right, it wasn't poor officiating. It was AWFUL officiating. the AR missed the most important call of the game. That is NOT the right call in any way, shape or form. It took a point earned from one team and gave 2 extra points to another. It's fine to say it was a difficult call to make considering the conditions - but missing the call was wrong. The AR blew it. Let's stop trying to justify his mistake.
Yes the officiating could improve BUT I will take the officiating in MLS over the NBA any day of the week! In the NFL there are no calls every play. Baseball officiating is as subjective, balls and strikes, as any sport out there. Every ump gets his own strike zone along with the star pitchers. Yes officiating in MLS can get better but it's already better IMHO than most of the other sports.
Now can we move on to tonight's game: Chicago vs. Portland? Haha. How about that poor officiating, because there was some? Move along.
Since Espindola #7 tapped this ball in, anyone want to argue that he was onside? Too bad that a good game in which both teams deserved 1 point came down to a lousy no call in the 92'.