So, was anyone else completely shocked watching the KC-SJ match that no cards were handed out until the extra time period? I was shocked but also very happy. He kept control, let the players play, tackle and play hard but fair. Too many referees put a strangle hold on a match by dishing out tons of cards early and then players end up playing on egg shells and that leads to boring soccer. I can only hope that more referees in MLS will continue this trend.
For all the schtick the refs often take - and quite deservedly - in the playoffs they've performed quite admirably. No serious goofups or miscues. Klein's goal may hvae been offside v. the Quakes but that's the linesman's fault, and anyway, it was inconclusive from the tv so who can say. Kudos all around to all the refs so far for keeping control and letting the players play.
Actually Dayak got a card for Dissent right after the second KC goal for yelling at the linesman. I believe you can hear the announcement booed in the 76 minute. I don't know why the announcers missed it. I think he did want to have anyone suspended for the finals or have to send anyone off, so he kept his card in his pocket. If he doesn't show cards early in the match for he won't have to send anyone off later. I think the Referee did an adequate job of keeping control of the game by talking to the players
The camera angles in this game did not help with assessing the referee at all. On the Klein goal it was impossible to tell whether he had run onside before he received that pass. Then in overtime, two plays in the box that looked like they may have been penalties, not only weren't called (which may have been right), but weren't reviewed. One looked blatant when viewed from the only two angles made available but...not conclusive. Personally, I find it distracting when the ref lets games get out of hand. He really lost control for large stretches of the game. Too often were players (on both sides of the ball) pushing and making hard tackles, and they received no caution. It's one thing to not award a card and set the players aside (like Stott did when Armstrong and Donovan got tangled up), but it's another to just let them fight (like he did with Talley and Agoos early on, a play that I felt set the tone for the rest of the game.)