03/19/22 FC Cincinnati vs Inter Miami TQL Stadium (1PM ET) REF: Ismir Pekmic AR1: Lyes Arfa AR2: Tyler Wyrostek 4TH: Rubiel Vazquez VAR: Daniel Radford AVAR: Eric Weisbrod New York City FC vs Philadelphia Union Yankee Stadium (1PM ET) REF: Ted Unkel AR1: Frank Anderson AR2: Kathryn Nesbitt 4TH: Luis Arroyo VAR: Jon Freemon AVAR: Tom Supple Toronto FC vs D.C. United BMO Field (3PM ET) REF: Ramy Touchan AR1: Brian Dunn AR2: Matthew Nelson 4TH: Drew Fischer VAR: Fotis Bazakos AVAR: Gianni Facchini LA Galaxy vs Orlando City Dignity Health Sports Park (3:30PM ET) on Univision REF: Alex Chilowicz AR1: Micheal Barwegen AR2: Chris Wattam 4TH: Ricardo Fierro VAR: Victor Rivas AVAR: Fabio Tovar Atlanta United vs CF Montréal Mercedes-Benz Stadium (4PM ET) REF: Chris Penso AR1: Jeremy Hanson AR2: Corey Parker 4TH: Sergii Demianchuk VAR: Jorge Gonzalez AVAR: Craig Lowry Chicago Fire vs Sporting Kansas City Soldier Field (6PM ET) REF: Timothy Ford *1st assignment this season AR1: Chris Elliott AR2: Gjovalin Bori 4TH: Calin Radosav VAR: Carol Anne Chenard AVAR: Robert Schaap Charlotte FC vs New England Revolution Bank of America Stadium (7PM ET) REF: Marcos DeOliveira AR1: Andrew Bigelow AR2: Diego Blas 4TH: Thomas Snyder VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero AVAR: TJ Zablocki- Minnesota United vs San Jose Earthquakes Allianz Field (8PM ET) REF: Pierre-Luc Lauziere AR1: Corey Rockwell AR2: Ian McKay 4TH: Chris Ruska VAR: Edvin Jurisevic AVAR: Jeff Muschik FC Dallas vs Portland Timbers Toyota Stadium (8:30PM ET) REF: Allen Chapman AR1: Jason White AR2: Meghan Mullen *1st assignment this season 4TH: Matt Thompson VAR: Armando Villarreal AVAR: Chantal Boudreau Houston Dynamo vs Colorado Rapids PNC Stadium (8:30PM ET) REF: Nima Saghafi AR1: Nick Uranga AR2: Art Arustamyan 4TH: Ismail Elfath VAR: Kevin Terry Jr AVAR: Joshua Patlak Real Salt Lake vs Nashville Rio Tinto Stadium (9:30PM ET) REF: Tori Penso *1st assignment this season AR1: Jose Da Silva AR2: Brooke Mayo *1st assignment this season 4TH: Jair Marrufo VAR: Sorin Stoica AVAR: Peter Balciunas 03/20/22 New York Red Bulls vs Columbus Crew Red Bull Arena (2PM ET) REF: Joe Dickerson AR1: Adam Wienckowski AR2: Justin Howard 4TH: Luis Arroyo VAR: Jon Freemon AVAR: Tom Supple Austin FC vs Seattle Sounders Q2 Stadium (4:30PM ET) on FS1 REF: Lukasz Szpala AR1: CJ Morgante AR2: Jeffrey Greeson 4TH: Armando Villarreal VAR: Kevin Stott AVAR: Joshua Patlak Los Angeles FC vs Vancouver Whitecaps Banc of California Stadium (10PM ET) REF: Guido Gonzales Jr AR1: Adam Garner AR2: Jeremy Kieso 4TH: Ricardo Fierro VAR: Victor Rivas AVAR: Fabio Tovar
I realize that we are probably talking about a small sample size since Tori Penso started getting MLS whistles, but is this the first time two females have been part of the four-person on-field crew in recent MLS history?
I’m not sure Webb will go for that. It just feels gimmicky. Better to keep the attention on (or off) the female officials for their performances in their own right. You make that assignment and it’s a controversial game and then it becomes a thing. But I might be wrong. As to the original question, pretty sure Nesbitt has been paired with female fourth officials before. But I also might be wrong there.
Very rare mistaken identity OFR in the 33rd minute of Cincinnati - Miami. Complicated situation because two defenders were involved in the challenge but he gave the yellow to the opposite player from the one he meant to.
6-8-7-3-9 is the yellow card count so far today, plus am SFP red. Following on what I said last week; the misconduct average has to be way up.
I was paying some attention to the first half of NYC-PHI, and it know Unkel gave at least one dissent yellow. I think it was two. Also a really good use of VAR to rule a NYC handling that was tough to see real time. This was a big call, as it would have been a PK and a DOGSO red for a push had the handling gone unpunished. In my opinion, that’s the kind of play where VAR can be helpful.
You guys should look at the comments on this reddit thread about the Montreal-Atlanta SFP RC today. It's hilarious to watch the comments show "wtf how is that a red ref sucks! edit: whoops didn't see the other angle, wow thats a horrible challenge". But any comments complimenting the ref for seeing it? Of course not https://old.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/ti5llq/atlanta_united_1_3_cf_montreal_dom_dwyer_red_card/ Is there any way to see misconducts given in MLS without actually watching all the games? The MLS website has the red card videos up. I'm watching some old Family Matters episodes, every time I see "Unkel" I think it's "Urkel". Wonder if he got a lot of jokes about his name in the 90s.
interesting no-offside call on the Rapids goal against Houston. Talking with @ManiacalClown he more sure the goal-scorer is likely onside when it hits off the other Rapids attacker's back than I am.
Dax McCarty showing why MLS needs a multiple-game suspension for VC or SFP as other leagues have at the end of RSL-NSH. A blatant stomp to MLS debutante Bode Davis in the 95th minute that Tori Penso immediately determined as VC. Red mist moment of the highest order.
To be fair, that angle is pretty crappy. When I look at that ankle it looks like he just kicks him in the foot. On the broadcast angles you can see much more clearly that it’s studs to knee/thigh.
I watched bits and pieces of a few matches today, and I feel like there’s starting to be some inconsistencies regarding the points of emphasis. Some refs are still being super strict regarding SPA, but in other games you see more leniency (example: the PK in Atlanta).
Not sure I buy “immediately determined.” It’s the right call, but it took 10 seconds or so and AR input. Which is totally fine at the professional level, most of the time, where players understand officials can take a beat to be sure before showing the card. But at lower levels, that card needs to be out a lot faster.
But SPA in the penalty area gets downgraded. EDIT.. yes, I know the “attempts to play the ball” language. So you have a point on leniency there. But it’s not like Penso is shying away from misconduct decisions generally so it’s a tough example to use to prove a larger point.
As I was watching, I thought the delay was more to quell the mass confrontation first and then showing McCarty his red. But I can understand your point that Penso should have been running in with red in hand.
Really hope they stick with the DR and FRD yellows. I think it will take another 4-6 weeks of almost zero tolerance before we see a general shift in player behavior. As a consumer, I want to see the ball in play and quick restarts. Is anyone keeping track of the cards and reasons? I bet we've had more DR and FRD cards this year than every year previous combined.
Two yellow cards issued against the Red Bulls for dissent. Since NY's Casseres already had one, he wasn't able to commit a tactical foul vs the Crew on what wound up being the tying goal on the final play of the match. In the 34th minute, a Red Bull ballboy actually held onto the ball to prevent a quick Crew throw-in in their offensive third of the field. Dickerson actually had to come over. Haven't seen that in a while.
Lukasz Szpala did an excellent job in today's Austin-Seattle match, especially considering it was only his 9th MLS match ever. Got pretty much every call correct, and kept a lid on what was a very energetic match with good communication to the players.
Yes of course it was. Point is that seeing the real time of fans immediately going from "wtf is this ref doing HE SUCKS" from a terrible angle to "oh wow that's bad I see why it was given" is funny
#MLSRefStats2022 REGULAR SEASONIncludes all games through March 2056 g, 4.98 Y/g, 11 R, 15 pens, 26.54 F/gHOME: 2.43 Y/g, 4 R, 11 pens, 13.14 FC/gAWAY: 2.55 Y/g, 7 R, 4 pens, 13.39 FC/gHOME RECORD: 29 W - 14 D - 13 L (1.804 PPG) pic.twitter.com/l86ctqpLfm— MLS Referee Stats (@MLSRefStats) March 23, 2022