Whitecaps caught up in a red tide
MLS is quickly becoming the Oprah Winfrey of soccer leagues.
“You get a red card, and you get a red card. Everybody gets a red card!”
OK, we’re not quite there.
But when Matias Laba was sent off at B.C. Place just 28 minutes into the Whitecaps’ scoreless tie against L.A. Saturday night, it was the 15th red card in MLS this season.
We’re only a month in. And 15 isn’t even counting the retroactive bans by the MLS disciplinary committee, a.k.a. DisCo, which has nailed Caps midfielders Christian Bolanos and Kianz Froese for tackles after the fact, plus Masato Kudo for diving, allegedly, last week.
Some of these reds, of course, have been run-of-the-mill stuff, including Jordan Smith’s ejection when the Caps (2-2-1) lost in Kansas City. What we’ve also seen, though, is a clear — and concerning — shift in what constitutes a red.
As Laba’s early shower showed, it’s a standard so harsh that few games seem destined to end 11 vs. 11 — in other words, decided by the players people pay to come watch.
Laba was sent packing for a sliding challenge that won the ball, but caught Mike Magee’s ankle on the follow-through.
Referee Jair Marrufo thought about it for a while, then reached for the back pocket, and it’s impossible not to wonder how these retroactive bans from DisCo are now affecting referees. If a referee thinks he’s likely to be overruled mid-week, is he not going to err on the side of ejection in a game?
At least the game was still good value, highlighted by a marvellous save by David Ousted off Gyasi Zardes in the 71st minute.
Galaxy goalkeeper, Brian Rowe, also made an outstanding stop off Andrew Jacobson’s 30-yard rocket just before halftime.
This single point will feel like three for the Caps.