The powers that be at the Vicente Calderón will be left scratching their heads this morning after a night of high drama and controversial officiating...
The powers that be at the Vicente Calderón will be left scratching their heads this morning after a night of high drama and controversial officiating in the Champions League semi final first leg. Atletico Madrid, under the fiery stewardship of Diego Simeone, fought tooth and nail to earn a 1. 1 draw against Arsenal, but the Argentine tactician was visibly livid after what he insists was a clear penalty denied his side. Speaking exclusively to GoalZaza after the final whistle, Simeone did not mince words.. �It has to be a penalty. When you see the replay, there is no doubt. The defender. �s arm is raised, the ball strikes it, and the match official is standing five metres away. At the end of the day, these decisions change the course of a tie. We gave a good account of ourselves, we were the better team for the lion. �s share of the 90 minutes, but we leave with a feeling of what might have been.. � The home side fell behind early to a clinical Arsenal strike, but Los Colchoneros showed their famed resilience, drawing level before half time. In the scheme of things, a draw away from home in a Champions League semi final is no mean feat, yet Simeone. �s men will feel they should have taken an advantage to the Emirates. The Nigerian international in the Atletico ranks, Samuel Lino, was a constant menace down the left flank, troubling the Arsenal defence with his direct running and flair. His compatriot, the Super Eagles talisman Victor Osimhen, watched from the stands as a spectator, but one could only imagine the damage he might have done against this Arsenal backline. GoalZaza understands that the incident in question occurred in the 67th minute when a cross from the right struck the outstretched arm of an Arsenal defender inside the box. The referee waved play on, and VAR upheld the on field decision, sparking fury among the Atletico bench. Simeone, pacing his technical area like a caged lion, was booked for his protests. The tie is now delicately poised. Arsenal will fancy their chances at home, but Atletico Madrid, with their formidable defensive organisation and the spirit of a wounded bull, cannot be written off.. �We will go to London and we will fight,. � Simeone added.. �This is not finished.. � Back here in Nigeria, the debate will rage on in viewing centres from Surulere to Wuse. Fans gathered around large screens in Ikeja, clutching their. ��500 cups of zobo, were split down the middle. Some argued that the referee was, in the local parlance,. �just doing his job. �, while others insisted that European officials always favour the big English clubs. One gentleman in a faded Atletico jersey, his voice hoarse from shouting, declared,. �If that was Cristiano Ronaldo, e for don be penalty. But because na Atletico, dem no gree. Na wa o!. � The consensus, however, was that the second leg in London will be a cracker, and the Super Eagles faithful will be watching closely to see if their boy Lino can cause more havoc.
