Marco Di Vaio and Andrés Romero earned additional two-game suspensions for last night actions in Houston, but it’s a suspension to a non-player that was the bigger news out of New York on Friday. Late evening Eastern time, Major League Soccer announced that its Disciplinary Committee had handed a one-match suspension to Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear, who will miss his team’s Sunday’s Eastern Conference semifinal opener against the New York Red Bulls.
Kinnear was handed the ban for leaving his technical area and entering the field of play in the 89th minute, a letter-of-the-law violation that overlooks the circumstances of his infraction. Kinnear’s entry onto the field came after Kofie Sarkodie was shoved to the ground by Romero, who was subsequently sent off for violent conduct. Kinnear appeared to be placating defender Corey Ashe as the melee wore down, a benevolent act that still violated the rules. On Sunday, he won’t be allowed on the sidelines or in the locker room as Houston hosts the Supporters’ Shield winners.
Houston Dynamo midfielder Corey Ashe is held back by defender Bobby Boswell (32) and coach Dominic Kinnear after Dynamo and Montreal Impact players got into a scuffle late in the second half during a knockout-round match in the MLS Cup soccer playoffs, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2013, in Houston. Houston won 3-0. (AP Photo/Bob Levey)
AP
How much of an impact this has on the result will depend on Houston’s adjustments, but given the way Kinnear has steered his team through the last two postseasons, his absence could have a major impact, depending on how the game plays out. If everything goes to the team’s pre game plans, it may not matter. If New York jumps on Houston and the Dynamo need to adjust? They’ll have to do so without the two-time MLS Cup-winning coach.
On the other side, both Romero and Di Vaio had two games tacked on their their violent conduct, suspension they’ll start serving next March. After shoving Sarkodie to the ground, Romero violently kicked at the ball underneath the Dynamo defender. Di Vaio, Montréal’s first player on the seen, was also dismissed, multiple times appearing to scratch Ashe along the side of his face.
Nobody’s going to think twice about those bans, given how things ended last night in Houston. Kinnear’s absence, however, is sure to be discussed throughout the weekend. Houston will have to get by without him.