Columbus gets away with blatant goal-line handball in MLS Cup final

Columbus Crew defender Michael Parkhurst is a lucky, lucky guy.

He did, after all, survive what probably should have been a red card for a handball clearance right off the goal-line, from a corner kick on the hour mark of the MLS Cup final.

The Portland Timbers nearly scored a goal from some frantic attacking as the ball bounced around in the box following the in-swinging corner. But Parkhurst, standing at the post, looked to have used his arm to control a close-range shot that came flying back at him off the crossbar.

Here's a better look:

It was blatant, it was obvious, but it wasn't given, and Columbus continued to search for an equalizer, down 2-1.