The California Clasico did not go the way of L.A. on Friday night, as an 18th minute goal from Shea Salinas lifted San Jose to a much needed win at Avaya Stadium.
But the Galaxy feel deprived of the best chance to come back, thanks to a dicey 47th minute red card dealt out to Leonardo that condemned L.A. to 10 men.
[ VOTE: Did Mitrovic deserve red vs. Arsenal? ]
Leonardo got tangled up with Quincy Amarikwa on a San Jose counter, taking the Quakes man down. It was ruled that Leonardo was the last man back, a red card offense. Galaxy boss Bruce Arena thought Omar Gonzalez was on the scene.
And Robbie Keane tore into head ref Jose Carlos Rivero after the match with a familiar refrain: the ref was making it all about him.
From MLSSoccer.com:“[The officials] didn’t tell us anything,” Arena said. “I think the entire officiating crew didn’t do a good job, I don’t even know if it’s a foul, and he’s not the last player -- Omar’s there -- and it’s a bad piece of officiating.
“If you’re going to give a yellow card, I’m going to maybe say OK, but I don’t even think it’s a yellow card.”
Keane, who struggled to leave an imprint on the game -- as did fellow Designated Players Gerrard and Giovani Dos Santos -- also wasn’t happy with Rivero.
“I do have a problem when you’ve got a referee who thinks it’s all about him instead of actually all about the players,” the Galaxy captain said. “The referee should never be mentioned in the game. Never. That’s the sign of a good referee. Never ever be mentioned in the game. Just concentrate on his own job instead of trying to be the center of attention.”
It’s far from the most egregious red card we’ve ever seen... and perhaps it’s even not controversial if not for the comments of Keane and Arena. Rivero certainly doesn’t have the best reputation, but is that the right call for Keane to use to make his point?
