In a evening of high drama at the Stadio Via del Mare, the Old Lady of Turin was made to sweat for their points after the Video Assistant Referee chal...
In a evening of high drama at the Stadio Via del Mare, the Old Lady of Turin was made to sweat for their points after the Video Assistant Referee chalked off two legitimate looking goals from their Serbian hitman Dusan Vlahovic. According to reports exclusively gathered by GoalZaza, the powers that be in the Serie A officiating room decided that on both occasions, the Nigerian international's strike partner had infringed upon the laws of the game. The first disallowed effort came from a corner kick routine where Vlahovic rose highest to power a header into the net, but the referee's earpiece buzzed with a verdict of a push on a Lecce defender in the build up. The second goal, a clinical finish from a tight angle after a swift counter attack, was also wiped out for offside in the initial pass. At the end of the day, Juventus had to settle for a share of the spoils, a result that leaves their Scudetto hopes hanging by a thread. The Bianconeri coach was visibly frustrated on the touchline, throwing gestures of disbelief as his side gave a good account of themselves but were denied by the technology. In the scheme of things, this could be a costly evening for the Turin giants as they now trail the league leaders by a significant margin. The lion's share of the possession and chances belonged to the visitors, but without the final touch counting, all their dominance yielded nothing but frustration. The Nigerian watching from the stands, a Super Eagles prospect on loan at a smaller Italian club, would have been intrigued by the physicality of Vlahovic's game, a trait that many Nigerian forwards are now adopting in their own careers. Back home in Lagos, at the popular Viewing Centre in Ikeja along the bustling Awolowo Road, the atmosphere was thick with tension. Fans who had gathered to watch the Serie A action on the large screens groaned in unison when the VAR decision was flashed. A man in a Juventus jersey, who had bet a significant sum in Naira on a Vlahovic goal, threw his hands in the air and shouted that the referees were robbing the club. His friend, a Lecce supporter, simply laughed and reminded him that what goes around comes around in the world of football. As the final whistle blew, the crowd filed out into the Lagos night, discussing how VAR had taken the joy out of the beautiful game, but agreeing that at the end of the day, the rules are the rules, whether you play in Turin or in the Naija Premier League.
