5. You get a card... you get a card... everyone gets a card!
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In a very poor imitation of Oprah Winfrey, the referee for the night gave away quite a few cards to both sides including a sending off each for the home side and the visitors. The official set the tone for the game when he made two bookings within the first six minutes.
Once the precedent had been set, the cards came pouring in. Every infraction seemed excessive and the night ended with a total of eight players in the referee’s book not that it wasn’t deserved. Things got out of hand when new Atletico recruit Stephen Pearson was shown a direct red for a lunging tackle. While the foul was unmistakeable, the sending off seemed unnecessary.
After Atletico was reduced to 10 men, it was bottom place Goa’s turn to lose a man on the pitch. Sanjay Balmuchu had already seen yellow for a foul in the first half and signed his marching orders when he went in on Prabir Das in the second.
The numerous bookings made for a scrappy and interrupted game.
