Los Nerdes Verdes: Can't Live With Them, Definitely Can't Live Without Them – CAPITAL CITY SOCCER
After contract disputes forced the league to play with replacement officials for the first five weeks of the season, Major League Soccer finally did the right thing and paid the refs. In their honor, here’s how correct (read pro Austin FC) all of our referees have been.
Who you view as Austin’s biggest nemesis depends on your criteria. The Verde & Black are averaging under a point a game under Ismail Elfath and Marcos de Oliveira. Despite Elfath’s record for Austin FC, he has the closest difference in fouls called for and against us. Meanwhile in the four games overseen by Nima Saghafi, Austin are in the hole 15 fouls compared to their opposition. Christina Unkel’s husband is the only one to brandish multiple red cards in their tenure. Both second yellows, Ted red carded Dani against Montreal back in 2022 and Alex Ring all the way back in 2021 against Sporting KC for Austin’s fourth ever match.
Of referees who have reffed four or more Austin FC games, Austin FC has had the best results with Joe Dickerson (2.17) even though his actual officiating in-game hasn’t been too much in Austin’s favor.
Tonight’s matchup will be overseen by a familiar face, Rosendo Mendoza, who has reffed 8 Verde matches. He’s historically been on the friendlier side with Austin’s 1.75 pts/game ranking T-2nd among referees with 4+ Austin games. He’s also let the boys play in the past, averaging just 1.38 yellows and hasn’t yet shown red.
Glad to see these familiar faces back on the pitch. Please help us, we need it. Listos!