Controversial goal in 101st minute ends season
SAFC coach argues N.M. score should’ve been ruled handball
New Mexico United’s Chris Wehan received a headed pass about 15 yards from goal on the right side of the field, then flicked the ball over his head so he could turn his body toward the net.
What happened next is a matter of perspective.
To San Antonio FC coach Alen Marcina and defender Joshua Yaro, Wehan’s next touch was a “clear” handball — a deft tap with his right elbow to help maintain possession.
But from the vantage point of the officials, Whehan’s flick fell cleanly back to the grass without any illegal contact. Though SAFC defender Liam Doyle almost broke up the play with a touch from his left leg, Wehan stepped to the deflected ball and sent a rolling, left-footed shot into the bottom-right corner of San Antonio’s net from about 12 yards out.
The goal in the 101st minute proved to be the decisive moment of the match, as a once-promising San Antonio FC season ended in the first round of the USL Championship playoffs with a 1-0 loss to
New Mexico in extra time Saturday at Toyota Field.
“I’m a firm believer of accountability, and I think people have to start to get held accountable,” Marcina said. “I felt it’s been lacking in the league, and I believe the officiating needs to be better. ... I respect what they do, and it’s an incredibly difficult job, and it’s a tough one to swallow on a clear handball on their goal. That’s a tough one to swallow, and people have to be held accountable.”
Marcina’s protest began even before Wehan unleashed his shot, as SAFC’s coach reached both arms into the air and yelled to the official in outrage and disbelief.
As New Mexico celebrated, SAFC’s players shrugged or looked around in confusion. Others pointed to their arm, indicating where they felt Wehan made contact with the ball. Mitchell Taintor sprinted up the pitch toward the nearest official to voice his opinion.
Marcina continued to try to capture an official’s attention on the sideline, mimicking a striking motion with his right elbow. Video replays sparked a chorus of boos from SAFC’s fans.
“It wasn’t one of those things that the ball touches him. He actively used his hand to touch the ball in front of him,” Yaro said. “So, it’s a clear handball, and I think from where the linesman was, he should’ve seen that. That’s their job. These things define games, as it did today, and it’s terrible. It’s his job to see that. It’s clear and obvious.”
Marcina said SAFC “created the better opportunities” for the bulk of the game, including a header by Jordan Perruzza from the right side of the 6-yard box that was tapped over the bar by New Mexico keeper Cody Mizell after a corner kick in the 44th minute.
San Antonio built a 17-10 advantage in shots and a 6-3 edge in corners, while New Mexico led 6-3 in shots on target and held 58.4 percent of possession.
“It’s a pretty terrible feeling,” Yaro said. “It shouldn’t have ended the way it did. ... We felt like we should’ve at least, at a minimum, come up with 0-0 and go to PKs and let that be the defining moment. The way that the game ended, it’s disappointing.”
The loss marked San Antonio’s first defeat at home this season following a 7-0-1 start. SAFC finished atop Group D of the USL Championship standings, earning home-field advantage for Saturday’s matchup against New Mexico, the second-place team from Group C.
San Antonio finishes the year 10-4-3, dropping four of its final six matches after starting 8-0-3 to stand as the league’s final remaining unbeaten team.
“I firmly believe that overall in this league, we are one of the best teams,” Yaro said. “And we were definitely going to make a deep run. But again, nobody really expects things like this to happen.”
Marcina spoke through the week about SAFC’s need to adopt a playoff mentality, and Saturday’s match took on a physical edge. Ten yellow cards were assessed, with hard challenges sending players hurtling to the field again and again.
Yaro said San Antonio had “no problem” adjusting to the style of play.
“We matched their intensity, we rolled up our sleeves, and we fight, if that’s what it takes,” Yaro said. “For us, the physicality wasn’t an issue at all.”
Though SAFC’s players were “incredibly disappointed” in the result, Marcina said New Mexico is a quality opponent, one he “wouldn’t be surprised” to see as the league champion.
“There’s a lot to look forward to. I can guarantee you that,” Marcina said. “We’ve created a culture, and a sustainable culture, that you can expect us to be in the playoffs year after year.”