MLS Fastest Red Card of the Season and was Atlanta United's equalizer offside

We are into the playoff push, which means some massive matchups with huge implications on match day 37 in Major League Soccer. And of course, that means some big time refereeing calls as well. I'm David Goss, your host for today here on Instant Replay, so buckle up because we're trying to climb above the line. Let's start in Houston, where the Dynamo continue to look like a juggernaut, leading 4-1 against the Colorado Rapids. But this is a nightmare moment for Orange fans, as Lalas Abubakar comes through AceAce on a dangerous tackle from behind. Torrey Penso, our head referee, calls the foul and gives a yellow card, but I believe that on further review, this should be a red card for serious foul play. In my opinion, this tackle endangers the safety of an opponent as Abubakar lunges from behind with excessive force. Luckily, Herrera is able to get up and continue playing in what has been an MVP candidate season for the Mexican international. Let's move to Atlanta and what could be a playoff preview between Atlanta United and the Columbus crew. Late into second half stoppage time, the home side are chasing a miracle, and they've got the miracle worker on the ball in Thiago Almada. The World Cup winner curls this ball in and Myles Robinson rises up to meet it and direct it past Patrick Schulte to send the five-stripe fans into delirium. But wait, will this goal stand? As Almada approaches this ball, Robinson is standing in an offside position. But as the Argentine steps into his windup, crew defenders Rudy Camacho and Aiden Morris take a step deeper, potentially putting Robinson in an onside position. Called a goal on the field with the best angle we have, there is no clear and obvious evidence that the call should be overturned. And the most important thing, of course, is in my humble opinion, which is Myles is onside. Atlanta steal a late point at home. We fly out west where Real Salt Lake are hosting Sporting KC in a must-win match for the visitors to keep their playoff hopes alive. And they could not have dreamed of a better start. Just 30 seconds into this match and Justin Glad gets caught on the ball by Eric Tommy. Glad wraps his arms around the attacker and brings him down. This is such a big call so early in the match and head referee Ted Unkle does the right thing and takes his time. He talks with his VAR Joe Dickerson and goes to the monitor before issuing Justin Glad a red card. Mind you, a historic red card. At 37 seconds into the match, it is the second fastest red card in MLS history, behind only Big Joe Nasco of the Colorado Rapids in 2011. Let's jump into the second half in Salt Lake where Marcelo Silva is trying to hold together the RSL defense. He comes out to meet Logan Ndebe in a 1v1 and fouls the SKC player in two places, both high with his left elbow and low, tripping up the Belgian. Alan Pulido is able to put away what would go on to be the winning goal after RSL's furious attempted comeback. We stay out west for a rematch of last season's Western Conference Finals as Austin try to keep their 2023 season alive against LAFC. With the Black and Gold already leading 1-0 late in the first half, Austin's Leo Vaisanen gets caught in a slide tackle against Christian Oliveira. Both squads are incensed, one calling for a PK, the other for a dive. The call on the field is play on by head referee John Freeman, but then he gets word from VAR Kevin Terry Jr. to go to the monitor for a potential penalty kick. As we take a look at the replay, Vaisanen clearly does not make contact with the ball, but I also don't feel I see clear contact by the defender on Oliveira. In my opinion, this should have been left with the call on the field of play on, as I don't think there is a clear and obvious error. Instead, John Freeman decides to point to the spot, and Dennis Buanga doubles the lead heading into halftime. A big game in Chicago where the Fire have a chance to clinch their playoff spot in a matchup against Charlotte FC. As the away team pushes down the left wing, a cross is played in, and DP striker Enzo Capetti goes down in the box. The Argentine attacker wants a penalty call, and this is where VAR is so important. The play happens away from the ball and away from the focus of the referees in the run of play. The VAR Jorge Gonzalez immediately sees this reverse angle where Capetti and Miguel Navarro collide at the top of the box, coming down the field, and then Navarro trips Capetti inside the box as the ball is served. Head referee Natalie Simon goes over to the monitor and correctly points to the spot. Carol Swinowski dispatches it, causing a massive swing in the playoff hunt for these two teams. We finish in D.C. with another pivotal playoff race match between D.C. United and NYCFC. After already having a goal correctly waved off earlier for D.C. United for offside, we get another big play here midway through the first half. Davis curls in the left-footed ball that's headed back out to Chris Durkin, who proceeds to annihilate this ball into the back of the net. But wait, again, the offside flag is up. The replay shows us on the initial free kick, Steve Birnbaum trying to ride the offside line, and the whole play comes down to Birnbaum's left knee. Reminder, a legal playing body part has to keep the attacker onside, so any part of the arm that would count as a handball wouldn't qualify. In my opinion, as we take this look here, Tolis Magno's left shoulder is keeping Birnbaum onside. I believe this is a goal, but given we don't have a better angle, I don't think the VAR can recommend a review for a clear and obvious error. So therefore, the correct call was made, no goal, and a frustrating end to the Wayne Rooney error as DC manager. As always, thanks for joining us. Happy refereeing in the immortal words of Mr. Simon Borg. See you next time!