Cristian Romero was very lucky not to be penalized for two incidents at the end of Tottenham’s draw against Chelsea.
Harry Kane headed to the death in controversial fashion to snatch a point in an epic 2-2 draw, after Chelsea had led the game twice.
Tensions boiled over in a heated London derby, particularly between the two benches, as the game was played at a fierce physical level, resulting in some contentious decisions from referee Anthony Taylor.
Chelsea took the lead in the spirited affair after 19 minutes when an unmarked Kalidou Koulibaly hit a tremendous volley from a corner on his home debut.
Tottenham struggled to gain control of the game during the first half as Thomas Tuchel’s side dominated, but came back into the game after the break and leveled after 68 minutes, in controversial circumstances.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg got Spurs back in the game with a good low shot, which held despite a clear foul by Rodrigo Bentancur on Kai Havertz in the build-up to the equaliser.
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 14: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates with his teammates after scoring his sides first goal during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on August 14 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
The hosts regained the lead with just 13 minutes remaining, stripping Tottenham from the top and slipping the ball through Reece James to score, sending Tuchel running down the touchline to celebrate after an earlier dispute with Antonio Conte.
Their lead did not last long however, as in stoppage time Tottenham won a corner which Kane managed to score, again in controversial fashion.
Replays showed that Romero clearly dragged Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella to the ground by the hair while waiting for the corner that Kane headed in for the equalizer, meaning it definitely shouldn’t have held and instead should have resulted in a red card for Rosemary. .
You can watch the incident below.
LOOK: Romero pulls Cucurella’s hair
Romero clearly pulls Cucurella’s hair but if the goal still stands whatever man
pic.twitter.com/ElN9nTz8bt
– SoccerChelsea (@FutbolCheIsea) August 14, 2022
However, the goal stood and Romero was not sent off as the Spurs leveled. It was a contest that had absolutely everything from sideline fights between the coaches, to big challenges and late drama.
Amidst all the chaos during and after the game, another moment of brilliance for Barclays went unnoticed. After Kane’s header flew into the back of the net on the boot of Reece James, who tried to block the effort, Romero ran up to James and yelled in his face, presumably to celebrate.
It’s pretty crazy footage. Be sure to check it out below.
LOOK: Romero screams in James’s face after the draw
Cristian Romero screamed in Reece James’s face after Harry Kane’s equalizing goal at Stamford Bridge. pic.twitter.com/TZCLwxi85s
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) August 14, 2022
Romero really is unhinged, isn’t he?
The Argentine has quickly become a favorite with Spurs fans for his aggressive style, obviously exceptional defensive skills and no-nonsense approach to games, but it was his chaotic personality that was on display on Sunday afternoon.
In a game that had already been turned upside down by several heated incidents, Romero yelling in James’s face moments after a tie that shouldn’t have stood is utter madness. He played fair for English by not completely losing his cool.
While many would consider Romero’s actions unnecessary, especially considering he was lucky enough to remain on the pitch in the eyes of many, one must appreciate that Conte has turned Spurs into a team aglow with passion, and his roaring celebration probably reflected that.
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 14: Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur scores his sides second goal of the game during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on August 14, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
Snatching a point from death on a ground they’ve struggled to win, and on a day they didn’t play well, would absolutely have felt like a win for Tottenham. However, he was very lucky not to have been disciplined for his actions, and the officials did not notice the hair-pulling or the scream.
Romero should definitely tone it down in the future, to avoid being caught in the act with his mischievous exploits.
Both sides will now be without their coaches on the bench next weekend, with Tuchel and Conte receiving a red card after the final whistle after tensions rose following an awkward handshake.
Chelsea visits Leeds on Sunday in the Premier League, while Tottenham hosts Wolves on Saturday in an early kick-off. The Spurs can perhaps count themselves lucky that Romero wasn’t also suspended for his affair with his manager, for his antics in the penalty area late in the game.
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