Juventus 1-1 Roma: Controversial Totti Penalty Earns Point For Giallorossi

Juventus and Roma battled to a 1-1 draw in an enthralling affair in Turin on Saturday evening.

Vincenzo Iaquinta opened the scoring for the injury-riddled hosts before a controversial penalty converted by Francesco Totti leveled matters on the cusp of half-time.

The atmosphere was electric in Turin and the players were well aware of the significance of this encounter. Nerves were evident in the early going and Nicola Rizzoli wasted no time brandishing his first card of the game as Jeremy Menez was booked for a cynical foul on Fabio Grosso in the first minute.

Both teams settled down after that and the home side carved out the first real opportunity of the match as Fabio Quagliarella played Vincenzo Iaquinta clear through on goal but his first touch took him out wide and Julio Sergio closed down the angle and made the save.

Roma almost stunned the hosts moments later when Menez controlled the ball on the edge of the penalty area and curled in a shot that looked destined for the back of the net until Marco Storari’s glove steered the ball around the post.

Juventus had another opportunity to draw first blood in the 24th minute when Alberto Aquilani’s tantalising cross was met by Quagliarella but Iaquinta was unable to redirect his strike partner’s header into the open net.

Iaquinta shook off the previous miss and proceeded to open the scoring in the 34th minute in sensational fashion. Aquilani delivered another wonderful ball into the box that Iaquinta acrobatically volleyed past Julio Sergio.

Roma clamored for a penalty near the end of the half when Philippe Mexes went down in the area but Rizzoli judged that Giorgio Chiellini got the ball first before the Frenchman hit the turf.

There was mayhem on the cusp of half-time as Roma were amazingly awarded a penalty when Totti’s free-kick hit Pepe’s arm and Rizzoli wasted no time in pointing to the spot.

After being hassled and harangued by the hosts, Rizzoli put the ball on the spot and Totti made no mistake sending Storari the wrong way to end the half.

Menez was making a nuisance of himself at the top of the box and unleashed a goalbound shot that Chiellini did well to block.

Roma were in the ascendency as Menez sent a delicious low cross into the area with no takers.

Claudio Marchisio then had a decent opportunity to give the home side the lead in the 65th minute when he controlled a pass at the far post but couldn’t poke it past Julio Sergio from an acute angle.