The first half between Seattle Sounders FC 2 and hosts Real Salt Lake was relatively even. S2 would breakout and threaten a touch more often, but the match was even. Then Sam Garza took a long throw and worked magic in first half added time.
It was the magic of the cup, and hope for a Cinderella run. That hope would not last.
The second 45 ratcheted up the tensions, the violence and the referee incompetence.
Damion Lowe run over Joao Plata. It was an NFL style tackle. There was no call, which was good for S2, but inspired Plata, who got in Lowe's face.
And then scored in the 63rd minute. All momentum was to the MLS side. Just minutes later Lowe would try to clear the ball, Plata would just touch it and Saif Kerawala would catch the deflection preventing a goal. The center referee waived to play on and then called an indirect kick... for reasons.
Sounders 2 then started collecting fouls and yellows. Their composure completely broken. Mansaray took a yellow after the call. Sanyang hammered an RSL player to earn a yellow. One or both got a second yellow and/or a red card after the final whistle. The players weren't the only ones that lost control.
Hendrickson was still angry when he got to Twitter.
RSL vs S2 #unbelievable... And it wasn't even American Football pic.twitter.com/TiG18Ue8Xa
— EZRA (@EzraHendrickson) June 17, 2015
S2 lost 2-1. But they lost more than that. They lost their minds. It's not a good look. This match may be a race to the bottom with the referees and S2 in tight race for first and RSL lagging back in third, losing the race while they won the game.