Juventus 1-1 Roma, Full Time: Both Sets Of Supporters Relieved, Neutrals Left Wanting More

What was that?

Juventus vs. Roma was an epic encounter, filled with almost everything you want from a football match. Technical skill and tactical aptitude. Heart, guts, sweat, and blood...literally. Two sets of Gladiators fighting it out to the very end. It had almost anything that the neutral fan wants from a football match. Almost.

What was missing, you ask? If you watched the match, you know the answer. The match was missing a winner. An epic second half like that deserved a winner. It was spectacular end to end football that featured great technique, both in attacking and defending. Both teams were playing their heart out. The winner was inevitable. Someone had to score it. It didn’t matter which team scored it to the neutrals, both teams played their tails off.

The winner never came, though. The whistle blew without the ball hitting the back of the net. Maybe a missed sitter, a clearance off the line, or a fight would have been a fitting ending as well, but none of them came. The match just ended. Fade to black. Almost 100 minutes of footballing brilliance capped off with an inconclusive, fade to black ending. It was “The Sopranos” in footballing form. When Fox Soccer Channel cut to commercial, I had the same reaction as I did when it was apparent that “The Sopranos” was actually over and my cable wasn’t out. It was the only reasonable reaction one could have.

What the f**k?

There was one slight redeeming quality to the match’s ending though, and that was Giorgio Chiellini screaming at the officials for not letting him play while he was covered in blood. He had suffered a head injury in a previous collision and his head wrap was failing him. As blood ran down his face and stained his shirt, the referee made him leave the pitch. Despite not changing shirts, Chiellini was incredulous that he wasn’t allowed back on the pitch. He was screaming at anyone who would listen, pointing at his bandaged head. It was reminiscent of Lieutenant Dan screaming at Forrest Gump “I WAS SUPPOSED TO DIE IN THE FIELD WITH MY MEN! WITH HONOR! IT WAS MY DESTINY!”

Like Chiellini, I’m walking away from the match unsatisfied. The viewing public got almost everything they wanted from the match, but somehow, they deserved more.