There were more questions than answers for Houston Dynamo coach Wilmer Cabrera in his post-match press conference following a 3-1 loss to the Philadelphia Union at BBVA Compass Stadium Wednesday night.
A frustrated Cabrera went on a controlled rant that lasted more than six minutes when responding to the first question from the press.
Almost all of Cabrera’s statement centered around the 59th-minute red card issued to midfielder Tomas Martinez following Video Review.
On the play in question, Alberth Elis played the ball to the left edge of the box where Romell Quioto made a run toward the end line before sending a short cross toward the near post. In an attempt to win the ball, Martinez stepped on Philadelphia defender Auston Trusty’s left ankle at the edge of the 6-yard box.
Referee Joseph Dickerson whistled a foul on Martinez before the play was reviewed, which led to some anxious moments for Cabrera in the technical area.
“I asked the fourth official [Jose Carlos Rivero] what happened. ‘Uh, We don’t know,’” Cabrera said. “[Union captain Alejandro] Bedoya came to ask what’s going on, ‘We don’t know. They’re checking for a red card.’ A red card against who? Their captain was worried about one of his players and I thought it was for the foul against Tomas Martinez.”
The game turned in Philadelphia’s favor after the call with Cory Burke scoring the go-ahead goal in the 70th minute and Fafa Picault adding a penalty kick deep in stoppage time.
Cabrera, though, couldn’t comprehend the game-altering call, claiming confusion on both sides.
“If you tell me that it was something on the field, the the players from the other team, or my players or any of you know why the red card happened on Tomas, please tell me because I don’t know,” he said.
In response to a question by pool reporter Jesus Acevedo about that decision, Rivero said, “VAR saw a clear and obvious error in the non-giving of a red card and recommended a review.”
“The red card was issued for a serious foul play for endangering the safety of the opponent.”
Apparently, Cabrera didn’t get that explanation during the match.
“To be honest with you, I don’t know what happened,” Cabrera said. “But it was really confusing.”
