The theatre of dreams at Wembley awaits Southampton, but the path to this grand stage is now clouded in thick fog of controversy. In a second leg that...
The theatre of dreams at Wembley awaits Southampton, but the path to this grand stage is now clouded in thick fog of controversy. In a second leg that stretched beyond 130 minutes of pulsating action, Tonda Eckert. �s men secured their passage to the playoff final against Hull City, yet the victory will forever be bracketed by allegations of foul play that dominated the prelude to this fraught encounter. The powers that be at the Football Association now face a weighty decision, for Middlesbrough, led by Kim Hellberg, have vowed to demand adequate punishment should Southampton be found guilty of cheating. The question on every lip at GoalZaza is whether such an unprecedented event could derail Eckert. �s train just as it nears the final destination at Wembley. At the centre of this storm stands Shea Charles, a footballer who seems to reserve his finest moments for the grandest occasions. It was the midfielder who struck the winner that sent Arsenal packing from the FA Cup quarter finals, and his 96th minute goal that orchestrated a stunning 4. 3 comeback against Leicester in February. Now, in the 116th minute, with the game edging ever closer to the lottery of a penalty shootout, Charles positioned himself on the right flank. With the composure of a man possessed, he sent the ball in with his left foot a cross by all accounts but the delivery sailed past the hapless Boro defender Dael Fry and nestled into the bottom corner at the back post. The St. Mary's crowd erupted, but the grudge match had only just begun. The lion's share of the discourse now belongs to the inquiry into the contentious buildup. Middlesbrough officials were seen remonstrating with match officials long after the final whistle, arguing that the goal should have been disallowed for a prior infringement in the Saints' defensive third. In the scheme of things, a ban or fine could yet alter the complexion of the final, but for now, Southampton must prepare to face Hull City without the distraction of the pending verdict. For the Nigerian faithful gathered at viewing centres in Surulere and Wuse, the drama unfolded like a Nollywood epic. As Charles's speculative cross curled into the net, the roar that went up from patrons at the Deportivo Bar in Lagos could be heard three blocks away, with men in green jerseys pounding tables and crying out for justice for the Boro man Fry. In Abuja. �s Silver Bird Galleria, the Super Eagles fans in attendance debated whether the goal was a moment of genius or sheer luck, while others argued that the real scandal was the referee. �s failure to consult the VAR monitor. Regardless of the outcome at Wembley, this match has given Nigerian supporters a storyline to dissect over many more weekends of Premier League ambitions.
