Squandered, spoiled, and stolen

June 19, 2008 by f4denz.

So I will post a more complete review of the 0-0 draw with San Jose later today after I have time to watch the match on TV, but I can tell you a couple very basic facts.

Squandered

With 24 shots and 4 on goal, we simply have little excuse for not getting 3 points at home. We allowed San Jose to push players forward in the first half (much like Chivas did in the 2^nd half last weekend), and our play suffered. When Hernandez got his second yellow card in the 44^th minute of the match San Jose responded by pulling their players back a bit and this provided RSL with a perfect chance to get a couple goals in the second half and pick up 3 points at home.

Spoiled

There is nothing worse than when a goal is scored and put up on the board, that the officials take the goal off the scoreboard. I will say it did appear the Kyle may have been a foot or two offside, but to be really honest I am not sure how either official would have felt comfortable making that call since both of their views were obstructed by players in the box. It surely did spoil a RSL celebration.

Stolen

So the spoiled goal was bad, but two things were worse for me last night. First a great shot that went of the post of the goal, not exactly stolen but close enough to get me upset. Second, and much more importantly was the obvious tackle of Kyle Beckerman in the box when he had the ball in a scoring position. When the official blew his whistle and went and stood on the penalty spot everyone expect the right call had been made, but for some unknown reason Jasen Anno made the wrong call and pointed for a goal kick.

I understand that this was only the 4^th MLS match that Jasen was the head official in, and to be honest it should be the last one. Far too many missed calls, handballs that were clearly seen in the stands were missed by the officials on the pitch, I thought the worst official in MLS this year was Kevin Stott, but Jasen is giving him a run for his money.

While even MLS officials reviewing the match against LA and admitting that wrong calls impacted the outcome of the match, I am sure that this match will also be reviewed and the performance of the officials will once again have impacted the outcome of the match. Both of these matches would have given RSL 4 additional points, and in the west that is the difference between 3^rd and 1^st.

OFF MY SOAPBOX

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