MLS Week 2 Reports: Controversy in Columbus and Salt Lake

Welcome to the MLS Week 2 Reports, where I'll give you my take on all the crucial calls from the past week.

Houston 0-1 Orlando City             Referee: Chris Penso (United States)

Relatively easy game for Penso, who only had to issue two cautions all game.

74th Minute: A poor clearance attempt from Houston Goalkeeper Tyler Deric deflects of Orlando's Pedro Ribeiro. Ribeiro then gets position on Deric, who does everything he can, including fouling Ribeiro in every way possible. The ball eventually finds its way into the back of the net. Great job by Penso to wait on blowing the whistle.

Chicago 0-1 Vancouver                Referee: Fotis Bazakos (United States)
4 penalty appeals, but all were excellent no-calls. Good work by Bazakos.

Columbus 2-0 Toronto                  Referee: David Gantar (Canada)
Toronto have had their gripes about Gantar in the past and this continued today against Columbus.
45th Minute: Ethan Finlay goes down on a challenge just outside the box from Toronto's Justin Morrow. Gantar calls a foul and after discussing the play with his assistant referee Danny Thornberry, decides to issue a red card to Morrow. The problem is that, for me, this was an outstanding challenge by Morrow, who seemed to mostly get the ball. Once Gantar called the foul, he didn't have another option besides red, given that Finlay had an obvious goal scoring opportunity.

FC Dallas 3-1 Sporting KC           Referee: Jair Marrufo (United States)

Veteran referee Jair Marrufo a solid game, but his assistant found himself at the center of controversy.

52nd Minute: Dallas Striker Blas Pérez scores his second goal of a corner from Michel. The problem is, replays show that Assistant Referee Eric Boria should have signaled for offsides on Pérez

79th Minute: Kansas City are awarded a penalty after Dallas Defender Matt Hedges blatantly holds Bernardo Anor in the box. This often doesn't get called, but it still is a clear penalty according to the Laws of the Game. However, Sporting KC's Dom Dwyer squandered the spot kick opportunity. Regardless, good work by Marrufo.

Real Salt Lake 3-3 Philadelphia     Referee: Allen Chapman (United States)

Chapman found himself the second referee today to draw the ire of supporters after a questionable PK in the 85th minute.

85th minute: RSL's Nick Mullholland goes down in the box after battling with Maurice Edu. The contact from Edu looks minimal to me, and I do not understand the penalty call from Chapman. This call would prove to be crucial as Álvaro Saborio buried the spot kick to knot it up at 3.

Seattle 2-3 San Jose                       Referee: Baldomero Toledo (United States)
Tough game for Toledo, who faced difficult decisions throughout the match. 
52nd Minute: San Jose's Víctor Bernárdez tries to kick the ball but misses and sends his studs into the leg of Michael Azira. Toledo shows Bernárdez a red, but I would have been okay with a yellow because I think Bernárdez couldn't have done anything to avoid it.
83rd Minute: Clint Dempsey appeared to be offsides before passing to Obafemi Martins for the Sounders' second goal. It was extremely tight, however, so I can see why the Assistant missed it.
UPDATE: I have watched this again and changed my mind. Great run by Dempsey, actually. 

New York 2-0 New England        Referee: Mark Geiger (United States)
Geiger got a milestone first home match for NYCFC, and the CONCACAF Referee of the Year lived up to his many awards.
66th Minute: New York's Khiry Shelton breaks towards goal. Revolution defender José Goncalves has no choice but to chase him down and foul him from behind. Obvious free kick and mandatory red card from Geiger. Good handling of the situation by Geiger.

Portland 2-2 Los Angeles              Referee: Hilario Grajeda (United States)
Pretty straightforward game for Grajeda. Nothing important to review.