Nashville SC's 2-2 draw with DC United included a controversial goal and lengthy video review. On Saturday, the Professional Referees Organization (PRO) released their review of Matchday 19, confirming that the video review that overturned the call on the field and allowed DC's first goal was incorrect.
In the 56th minute, defender Sylvan Hefti volleyed into the net after Nashville partially cleared a corner kick. However, the goal was called back for offside in real time by the assistant referee.
When the corner was played, DC center back Kye Rowles and Nashville right back Andy Nájar both went up to head the initial delivery. The ball was flicked on, falling to DC forward Louis Munteanu, who headed the ball back across goal. Nashville goalkeeper Brian Schwake punched that delivery away, and it fell to Hefti, who scored.
Initially, the assistant referee raised his flag for the apparent offside offense by Munteanu, and the goal was called off. However, a video review was recommended by VAR, and referee Ricardo Montero Araya eventually allowed the goal after a lengthy review that lasted four minutes and fourty-six seconds, eventually determining that Nájar touched the initial ball and negating the offside on Munteanu.
PRO has now determined that video review should never have been recommended. Per their release:
PRO’s opinion: While Andy Nájar (NSH) headed the ball on from the corner kick, the referee determined that Munteanu (DC) had also touched the ball. When the VAR analyzed the angles, it was clear that the ball came from Nájar’s head, but it was not clear if the ball also touched Munteanu or not. As a result, there is no clear evidence that the on-field decision was wrong and a review should not have been recommended.
– Professional Referee Organization*
*One quick note – "Munteanu" in the above paragraph appears to actually be referring to Rowles, who went up with Nájar for the initial header. PRO has been contacted for clarification.
The video review and the goal being allowed changed the course of the match. Had the initial call stood, Nashville would have been up 2-0 with under 30 minutes of regulation left to play. However, DC eventually scored an equalizing goal in the 77th minute, tying the match and resulting in two points dropped for Nashville.
The entire review sequence can be seen here:
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