The New York Red Bulls proved to be too clever for Chicago Fire on Wednesday night, as well as the match officials.
Confusion abounded just after half time when Red Bulls winger Lloyd Sam sauntered over to take a corner and lightly kicked the ball into play before trading places with sneaky Sacha Kljestan.
Kljestan asked the linesman if he could play on as his teammate had technically already taken the corner and the befuddled official gave the OK.
Kljestan dribbled into the box, picked out a teammate and the wily New York Red Bulls drew level.
The goal shouldn’t have stood as the Professional Referee Organisation (PRO) explained that a corner taker touching the ball more than once is punishable by an indirect free kick to the other team.
“If the kicker touches the ball again before it has touched another player, an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team.'”
Luckily the quick-thinking, rule-breaking move didn’t affect the result as the righteous Chicago Fire went on to score a late winner and prove that some justice exists in world football.
