Sounders paid steep price for iffy calls

  • By Don Ruiz The News Tribune
  • Tuesday, March 22, 2016 6:54pm
  • SportsSports

TUKWILA — One of the frustrations of soccer is that its punishment so often doesn’t fit the crime.

A team can be starting a dangerous attack that comes to a head-over-heels halt when a defender dumps an attacker at midfield. The punishment? The offense gets to put the ball back in play right where it was, but this time with the defense safely back behind the ball. That’s a fine the defense is more than willing to pay — like a parking ticket less than the prevailing parking rate.

Then there’s the other kind of injustice: the kind where the punishment is greater than the crime. The Seattle Sounders were on the unhappy end of a couple of those Saturday in their 2-1 loss to Vancouver.

Actually, the Sounders can — and did — make the case that there may have been no fouls at all. That one call was flat-out wrong, and the other was in an area gray enough that it could have gone either way. But in neither case were the Whitecaps in especially goal-dangerous position when the fouls were called. And those calls inevitably led to the PKs that were the Vancouver’s margin of victory.

In the first case, Christian Bolanos chased a ball down the right side of the penalty area, with defender Joevin Jones hot on his heels. Replays don’t clearly show if those heels were clipped, but Bolanos went down and referee Mark Geiger awarded the PK.

“I think there’s no contact.” Seattle coach Sigi Schmid said Tuesday. “… But I can understand from a referee’s perspective he sees it a little bit differently, depending on the angle that you have, etc. I can see that.”

In the second case, a long pass was lofted into the top left portion of the penalty area, with Blas Perez in pursuit on an angle away from the goal. Centerback Chad Marshall went down to sweep the ball away, as Perez seemed to lean into Marshall.

“It’s a footrace with Perez,” Marshall said. “I go to ground there. I think without the contact initiated by him that I get to the ball. I think that hip throws me off, and I don’t get there. I haven’t seen the replay there. I probably need to be smarter and stay on my feet and not let the ref have to make that decision.”

Geiger made the decision to call the foul and to show Marshall a yellow card.

It was the third time in the Sounders’ eight MLS seasons that they have faced two penalty kicks in a game.

On Tuesday, an MLSsoccer.com weekly video feature that dissects controversial calls concluded neither call was correct.

“I think (Marshall) put the referee into a position where the referee was able to make a decision like that: Is it a PK, is it not a PK,” Schmid said. “I think if you watch all the games this weekend you could probably see 10 slide tackles that are very similar, and maybe 50 percent of them get called as fouls, and 50 percent are ‘No, he got the ball, play on.’ But when you put the referee in a position where he can make that choice, obviously it’s not the best place to be.”

Added time

Schmid said the Sounders will make a decision regarding former U.S. national team forward Herculez Gomez this week. Gomez trained with the Sounders last week, but departed over the weekend. … The Sounders return to training Wednesday. Schmid said the emphasis will be on crossing finishing and building out of the back.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Arlington’s Leyton Martin (2) poses for a photo at Arlington High School on Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 Boys Basketball Player of the Year: Leyton Martin

Arlington’s do-it-all junior point guard led the Eagles to a district title and second straight Hardwood Classic.

X
Prep roundup for Thursday, March 28

Prep roundup for Thursday, March 28: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Left to right, Mountlake Terrace’s Zaveon Jones, Glacier Peak’s Jo Lee, Everett’s Isaiah White, Arlington’s Leyton Martin, Jackson’s Ryan McFerran, and Mountlake Terrace’s Jaxon Dubiel pose for a photo at Arlington High School on Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 All-Area boys basketball teams

A look at the top prep boys basketball players in the area from the 2023-24 season.

Silvertips’ Andrew Petruk (26) fights for the puck during a game between the Everett Silvertips and the Tri-City Americans at the Angel of the Winds Arena on Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Breaking down the Silvertips’ 1st-round playoff series vs. the Giants

Everett is searching for a revenge after a shocking playoff exit against Vancouver two years ago.

Left to right, Arlington’s Samara Morrow, Kamiak’s Bella Hasan, Everett’s Alana Washington, Lake Steven’s Nisa Ellis, Lynnwood’s Aniya Hooker, and Meadowdale’s Gia Powell, pose for a photo at Everett High School on March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 All-Area girls basketball teams

A look at the top prep girls basketball players in the area from the 2023-24 season.

Everett’s Alana Washington poses for a photo at Everett High School on March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 Girls Basketball Player of the Year: Alana Washington

The Everett senior upped her game in the postseason to help the Seagulls overcome injuries and claim their first state trophy in 41 years.

Silvertips players celebrate during a game between the Everett Silvertips and Tri-City Americans at the Angel of the Winds Arena on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024. The Silvertips won, 5-3. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Silvertips land No. 1 pick, chance to draft generational talent

Landon DuPont is the consensus top pick in next WHL prospects draft. Everett chief operating officer Zoran Rajcic said the team intends to select him.

Dennis Williams, head coach and GM of the Everett Silvertips, shakes hands with an assistant coach at the end of a season opening victory over the Vancouver Giants on Saturday, Sep. 24, 2022, at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Coach, GM Williams leaving Silvertips for Bowling Green State

After seven successful season leading Everett, Dennis Williams is heading back to his alma mater. He’ll stay with the Tips through the WHL playoffs.

Stanwood High School student athletes during their signing day ceremony. (Courtesy of Stanwood High School)
Local class of 2024 athletes who have signed to play in college

A running list of 2024 high school athletes who are set to compete at the next level.

Mountlake Terrace’s Jaxon Dubiel talks with head coach Nalin Sood during the 3A boys state basketball game against Todd Beamer on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024 in Tacoma, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘It was just time’: Mountlake Terrace basketball coach Sood steps down

Nalin Sood guided his alma mater to 381 wins and 15 state berths in 24 seasons as head coach. He spent over four decades with the program.

University of Washington's new men's basketball coach Danny Sprinkle meets the news media, Wednesday, March 27, 2024 in Seattle. (Ken Lambert/The Seattle Times via AP)
Taking over at Washington personal for men’s basketball coach Sprinkle

Danny Sprinkle spoke about his connection to the school during his introductory press conference Wednesday.

X
Prep roundup for Tuesday, March 26

Prep roundup for Tuesday, March 26: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.