The NWSL’s debut of VAR adds controversy to referee concerns

It was an early candidate for NWSL Goal of the Year: On Sunday, Angel City FC’s Jun Endo lofted a perfect shot from 40 yards over NY/NJ Gotham FC goalkeeper Abby Smith and into the back of the net. Angel City were 2-0 up and looked to be cruising, and the sellout crowd in Los Angeles was buzzing.

Until they weren’t.

VAR struck, calling over referee Elijio Arreguin to have a look at the sequence, and he proceeded to wave off the goal due to a foul from Angel City midfielder Dani Weatherholt in the run-up. The goal and the precious momentum it provided were gone. As the crowd was robbed of a big moment in Angel City’s 2023 season opener, all that remains is the dubious distinction of the goal being the first in NWSL history to be overturned by VAR.

It wasn’t the last time VAR and Arreguin would have their say either. In the 51st minute, Angel City goalkeeper DiDi Haracic was adjudged to have taken down Gotham’s Svava Gudmundsdóttir in the penalty area, but only after VAR intervened. The ensuing 55th-minute penalty was dispatched by Gotham’s Midge Purce and breathed plenty of life into the visitors, propelling them to eventually grab a well-taken game winner from Lynn Williams 10 minutes later.

And so what looked set to be an Angel City celebration turned into a 2-1 defeat. There…