Was it or wasn’t it a penalty kick? The decision by referee Adonai Escobedo late in the Montreal Impact’s2-1 loss to Olimpia in the first leg of the Concacaf Champions League quarterfinals will be hotly debated among Impact supporters.
Watch it below:
The controversial sequence started with Anthony Jackson-Hamel latching onto an Orji Okwonkwo cross. His downward header caromed off Maylor Nunez in the box.
Escobedo immediately pointed to the spot which is when the remonstrations began. First Olimpia players pointed toward assistant referee William Arrieta, pleading for Escobedo to ask for his view.
Escobedo did just that and when Arrieta recommended waving off the PK, and Escobedo obliged, it was the Montreal players turn to appeal.
Video Review has not yet been implemented in official Concacaf competitions.
Olimpia appeared to benefit from another controversial play in the Round of 16 when striker Yustin Arboleda was not sent off for a studs-up challenge on Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei in the opening leg.
Jozy Altidore, who plays for rivals Toronto FC and has given the Impact nightmares over the years, came to Montreal's defense on Twitter, but closed with this zinger:
