The New York Red Bulls returned from LA with a good deal of injury - literal and metaphorical. Banged up by the Galaxy and repeatedly ignored by referee Hilario Grajeda, the team had much about which to be justifiably aggrieved.
Among the list of grievances, Grajeda's denial of two clear penalties (he also denied LA an equally compelling shout) that might have settled the match in RBNY's favor.
One of them looked like this:
Veron goes down in the box. No call. pic.twitter.com/5FsEdEmHcY
— Total MLS (@TotalMLS) August 8, 2016
As chance would have it, LA Galaxy was back in action in mid-week, playing FC Dallas in US Open Cup. In extra time, with scores tied 0-0, this happened:
Penalty! To Los Angeles! pic.twitter.com/3toVgZWCU2
— Total MLS (@TotalMLS) August 11, 2016
It was called a penalty because of course it was called a penalty. It was a penalty on Sunday. It was still a penalty on Wednesday.
The incident did not go unnoticed.
Hmmm! looks familiar ☕️ pic.twitter.com/pPwfgo2Xtz
— Brad Wright-Phillips (@TheRealBWP) August 11, 2016
Ok. #USOC Penalty in LA, almost identical to non-call in NYRB-LAG game last weekend and penalty is called.
— Stuart Holden (@stuholden) August 11, 2016
Well this PK looks familiar .. #Gonzalo #LAvDAL #RBNY
— Morgan Perri (@morganperri) August 11, 2016
That literally was a carbon copy of the Gonzalo Veron missed PK. #RBNY #USOC2016
— Gregor® (@AwayGoalRule) August 11, 2016
Fortunately, LA's considerable luck (the team's progress in this year's USOC was facilitated by a disgraceful episode against amateur side La Maquina) finally ran out before the end of extra time. FCD snatched two goals off set pieces to win the game.
Congrats, FCD.