Well, Sacramento Republic FC are out of the playoffs, losing 1-0 in an epic 120-minute match Saturday against Phoenix Rising. Solomon Asante scored the winner with a hockey-style deflection in the 114th minute. It’s a killer but what can you do, that’s sports.
Except ... Asante appears to have punched the ball in the net.
After the final whistle, the Phoenix color announcer admits he thought it was a clear handball, too.
If that video is too fast for you to tell, try this slower version:
I don’t know, that angle looks pretty clear to me. He punched the ball in.
So listen: This game will not be overturned. I know it’s been a weird year, but this result will stand, totally illegal goal and everything. Surely you’ve heard of the Hand of God, one of the most famous goals of all time. That one happened in a World Cup and nothing happened, and it’s celebrated and scorned in equal measure.
However, the USL Championship didn’t use VAR this year, and uh, it feels really bad to have a game in the 21st century decided in extra time on a blatant handball that was hard to see with the naked eye in real time. Could you argue that since it wasn’t clear it’s ok to stand? You could but that would be lame, let’s be real.
At the very least, USL needs to think about using VAR at least in playoff games. Imagine your season being ended by a player punching the ball in the net. Oh wait, that’s what happened here. It’s truly awful, and it’s going to make the loss that much bitter for a long time in Sacramento.
What do you think? Leave a comment below.
Comments
With a COVID riddled season. A terrible call is not surpising
In all fairness to the USL. I rooted for Sac and watched all but 2 games, but I never truly took this season truly seriously. The groups and having to play 3 teams 4 times was weird. I was hype for the playoff game though because I knew Phoenix was there for the taking. Its a shame it had to end this way. But I’m proud of Sac and their amazing defensive display. And yes, that was an obvious handball. No Phoenix fan will admit it, and accuse us of being "salty", but especially after watching the slowed down clip, its a CLEAR as day handball.
By SirHobbsalot on 10.10.20 10:42pm
I get your point about the oddity of the season. Frankly, glad to have one at all.
But there have been odd seasons in various sports for various reasons. Strike-shortened seasons come readily to mind. Then, every team plays the relatively similar hand that that season dealt. So, play it, right? I think whoever is champion is legitimately champion of the year that it was.
I am "salty", so I don’t mind being accused of it. But, I mean, even "Phoenix fan" has to admit that was all fist, doesn’t he/she? The best anyone can do is give the guy credit for acting like his head was part of the action. Real time, that may have been the difference, I would think. But we know. All of us know, including "Phoenix fan". Here I now say something remarkable – "Go Reno 1868!"
By left hand on 10.11.20 12:36pm
Ditto SirHobbsalot on crediting SRFC with outstanding defense.
The game was physical and tense at times. It probably should put Phoenix/Sacramento into some level of rivalry status, in that RepublicFC owe them payback forever for larceny on the big stage. Now Phoenix have San Diego and Sac always ready to stuff them down a hole.
Absolutely and without question a handball, blatant and utterly deliberate. Pathetic. No way to end a season. However…
While the defense was terrific, the offense was terrible. If you choose to give up 65-70% possession, fine. Hold and counter is legitimate and was working, except for the counter. When playing that way, the counter has to have urgency. There was no pace or decisiveness or cohesiveness. If the counter is going to be that sluggish, then you have to value more possession and buildup. SRFC does not value possession. Inexplicable and countless giveaways cannot be part of the game plan, can it? We know they can do it. We’ve seen them do it. But not much; and not yesterday. So, as much as Phoenix was "handed" the victory, or at least freedom from the gamble of PK’s, by a terrible huge missed call, they were also handed the victory by the fact that RepublicFC cannot win if it doesn’t score a goal, and cannot score a goal when it gets so few chances due to its own inefficacy, and when it is directly in front of net with the ball at foot cannot put said ball in the back of said net. So, I call gross injustice/perfect justice. I don’t have to be happy about it, I’m not. But if my team looks like it has no attacking plan whatsoever, or no inclination whatsoever to execute an attacking plan…, the defense was awesome.
Maybe we can occupy our seats in 2021 and enjoy seeing action on a new stadium being built. Looking ahead.
By left hand on 10.11.20 12:29pm
I'm having trouble stomaching the recap writeup on SacRepublicFC's site.
I get it somewhat, with Alicia’s coaching, that they never write anything negative about our own club. But, come on! What prevents them from saying, instead of "Moar finds Asante" ( or whatever), something more like, "Moar sent the ball in to Asante, who, undetected by the officials, used his left fist to punch the ball into the net". Why write stuff if you’re not going to say stuff?
By left hand on 10.11.20 12:47pm