It’s been a bit of a mad week for Roma. After their 1-1 draw with Genoa last weekend that extended their winless start to the season, the club’s top brass decided enough was enough and sacked club legend Daniele De Rossi on Wednesday after just four games of the season.
Unsurprisingly this didn’t go down well with the Romanisti. The second popular coach to be sacked in nine months, after Jose Mourinho in January, owner and preseident Thomas Dan Friedkin wasn’t exactly doing himself any favours.
Roma Ditch De Rossi Again; The Inevitable Downfall of the Prince that Was Promised
In a remarkably quick turn around Ivan Juric took training the very next day. He faced a Udinese side who were sitting pretty in first place going into this weekend.
Ultras Protest
The game started in a strangely subdued Olimpico. As a protest the Roma ultras had left the Curva Sud, behind Martin Svilar’s goal completely empty for the first half hour of play.
On the pitch things started brightly for the home side. Artem Dovbyk took the ball graciously in the seventh minute then unleashed a half volley that forced Maduka Okoye into a fine save.
The Giallorossi were enjoying most of the possesion and were pinning Udinese back. 15 minutes in the visitors had a big chance of their own though. Svilar punched a ball away unconvincingly and left his goal open, fortunately for him Kingsley Ehibizue couldn’t direct his shot goalwards.
Dovbyk Rifles Roma In Front
This chance was an anomaly in the first 45 minutes and soon Roma were in front. Udinese gave the ball away cheaply, it was picked up and found it’s way to Dovbyk on the left. The Ukrainian had one glance up then rifled a left footed shot right across goal and into Okoye’s net.
The ultras missed some strike standing outside.
They poured in at the half hour mark, within minutes the Curva was full. Their side looked to have taken advantage of this energy, having a flurry of chances before half time.
The wide spaces were exploited time and time again by Roma, Angeliño demonstrated this in the 35th minute with smart run on the left and a high cross to the back post that Zeki Çelik met with a volley well wide.
Luca Pellegrini fired over then linked up with Paolo Dybala moments later but again put his effort over the bar.
Messages to De Rossi were displayed on banners in the crowd theoughout and the teams were whistled off at half time, sections of supporters adamant on showing their anger.
Dybala Doubles From the Spot
Anything Kosta Runjaic said to his side at half time went down the drain almost instantly when Paolo Dybla won a penalty in the 48th minute.
Artem Dovbyk had won the ball in the corner and found the Argentine in the area. A lunging leg was left in and Dybala went down to win the spot kick.
He stepped up to take the kick himself and blasted an emphatic shot into the top right corner.
Now the Giallorossi were turning on the style and should have been three up moments later but Bryan Cristante’s header was saved.
With the game a little more open Udinese saw counter attacks ad the best eay to get back in the game. Brenner saw a lot of the ball and had a shot of his own before starting an attack in the 66th minute.
Roma committed too many men forward and Brenner tried to counter. He hesitation cost him but he still found Thauvin who dug out a shot that required a strong hand from Svilar.
That would be the chance Udinese looked back at as a turning point as with twenty minutes to go they were 3-0 down.
Baldanzi Puts it To Bed
The wide areas key once again, Stefan El Shaarawy broke and found substitute Tommaso Baldanzi who had just been introduced.
The Italian played a quick one-two with Dovbyk on the left of the penalty box and slotted his shot home under Okoye.
That was that.
Roma Romp to Victory
Udinese rarely threatened again, save for the odd shot. Dovbyk even had the ball in the net again for Roma but was offside.
Content with the 3-0 scoreline Roma didn’t over exert themselves as they ease into this new era.
Ivan Juric will breathe a sigh of relief as at least on the pitch things seem to be getting a little better.
Roma romp to victory and get their first win, eventually.