Match Review: Texoma FC 3-3 AV Alta
The USL1 Referee problem is out of hand.
Image credit to Texoma FC
Texoma FC was able to save 1 point out of what should have been a sure win, but they struggled to keep shape after a red card early in the second half. AV Alta took advantage of any and all opportunities or mistakes by Texoma to come back from 3-0 down and draw 3-3.
It was a very fast paced game and Texoma played with aggressive pressure from the midfield and offense. All the advantage was to Texoma going into the halftime break up 2-0. The second half is where the game got interesting. Not even a minute in, Texoma scored again and seemed unstoppable.
However, in the 54th minute, defender Angelo Calfo grabbed a ball that had gone out for a throw. I’m not sure if he thought it was Texoma ball, or if he thought he would waste a few seconds of clock. But right as Calfo grabbed the ball, he's shoved to the ground by striker Emmanuel Alribe. The referee immediately books a yellow card to Calfo, which upgrades the yellow he got previously to a red card, for time wasting. It’s a common soccer tactic, so I don’t think that was the right call. Alribe also received a yellow. Either way, this would count as the first instance of bad refereeing. It would continue with inconsistent calls and no calls.
Being now a player down, Texoma struggled to keep their shape and defensive composure. They gave up 2 goals back to back in the 58th and 60th minutes. Texoma failed to find any more chances, and made way too many silly mistakes that cost them this game. In the 88th minute, AV Alta were fouled about 10 feet outside the box. Without hesitation, they immediately resumed play, no whistle that the free kick was ready, passed behind the ball behind Texoma lines, and Alta ended up tapping it in for their 3rd goal. Just like that, the game was tied.
5 minutes of injury time was added. Pretty uneventful until towards the end of the game, the referee refused to play an easy advantage call. This leads to the final whistle and the game ending in a draw.
Texoma still resides at 8th with 22 PTS after this result, while AV Alta are at 6th with 29 PTS.
Professional players should know better than to time waste when you already have a yellow and your team is up 3:0 !! I mean, wouldn't you want the time to fly by? Just nonsensical --blame the player, not the ref!