In the 27 years I’ve been watching football I don’t think I’ve seen as weird a game as Columbus Crew SC’s Wednesday evening 2-0 win over Sigi Schmid’s struggling LA Galaxy.
Two missed penalties, a red card, a penalty that wasn’t and then was, a goal that was and then wasn’t and a man of the match performance from the newly implemented Video Replay System (VAR) made for a game that could’ve ended up as a goal fiesta yet somehow Columbus failed to put the game out of sight until the final minutes.
LA captain Ashley Cole was given a straight red in the 18th minute after chopping down Crew SC new-boy Pedro Santos. Cole was judged to be the last defender and quickly sent to the showers before the referee apparently second guessed himself and checked with the crowd’s new best friend, the VAR system, and then decided to stick with his decision.
Santos was again in the thick of the action shortly after when he was, again, brought down in the box. The referee gave a free-kick outside the area before an overruling decision came from the VAR to instead correctly award the home team with a penalty.
Returning Crew midfielder and dodgy penalty taker Federico Higuain missed the resulting spot-kick.
The VAR wasn’t quite done interfering with the game and midway through the half disallowed LA Galaxy from taking the lead after Joao Pedro was caught offside after Daniel Steres headed the ball into the Crew SC goal.
Ola Kamara grabbed his 13th goal of the season just before half-time after Pedro Santos’ low cross somehow made it into the box and the Crew SC forwards scuffed shot found its way past LA ‘keeper Kempin.
Kamara had the chance to double the home side lead in the second half with a penalty awarded after Kamara himself was sent flying by the Galaxy goalkeeper.
This time it was Kamara that missed the resulting spot-kick.
Justin Meram finally put the game to bed in the final minute of the game with a well taken goal that gives Columbus another 3 points as we head towards the push for post-season.
All photos by Matt Ellis.
