TSF Website has Moved!

At the bar today watching the Champions League match, the hot topic of discussion was whether or not Lehman should have been sent off for denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity OR whether the advantage should have been played, the goal allowed, and Lehman only cautioned.

I can't answer the question for this particular match because it took place in Europe, but had the match taken place in a USSF sanctioned tournament, the USSF Advice to Referees is very clear about this matter:

12.39 APPLYING THE ADVANTAGE
Even if the referee makes use of the advantage clause during an obvious goalscoring opportunity, he can still punish the offender after the fact. If a goal is scored directly despite the attempted intervention by a defender handling the ball, fouling an opponent, or committing misconduct, the offender cannot be sent off for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity, but he can still be cautioned for unsporting behavior or sent off for serious foul play if the foul involved excessive force. However, if in these circumstances the goal was scored following a second or immediately subsequent play of the ball, the offender must nevertheless be sent off because his action prevented a goal or an obvious goalscoring opportunity during the first play when the infringement occurred.

So in the US, the right call would have been "Advantage", "Goal", "Red Card to Lehman".