Sometimes soccer can be frustrating … very frustrating … like last Saturday in Maryland when 30 minutes into the game, Mike Burke appeared to be taken down in the penalty box. He had an easy 1v1 with the opposing keeper and it seems that a defender pushes him from behind. “Appears” and “seems” because the referee did not call a penalty.

In the process of arguing the no-call Mike Burke and our assistant coach Jesse Myers were thrown out of the game with red cards, both well deserved. However, in a split second the game changes from us having a penalty to go up by 1:0 and a red card for the Maryland defender because of his last man foul to a one man disadvantage for us. A situation like this is so frustrating, especially in a game like soccer, where one goal often decides the outcome of a game or an early red card gives one team a huge advantage.

Here is the incident for you guys (double-click on the video for full screen). Leave a comment and tell me what you as a referee would have called and why.