After winning the tricky away leg at the Estadio Municipal de Braga, Paulo Fonseca’s Roma continued their run in Europa League. The Portuguese side succumbed to another defeat in Rome to bow out unceremoniously out of second-tier European club competition.
Heading into the first leg, both sides had third place to their names in their respective domestic leagues. Roma has slipped in Serie A as Juventus leapfrogged them but Braga have stood firm. They are on the course of catching up with Porto in second place in the Portuguese Primeira Liga.
On the European front not much has changed. Edin Dzeko and Borja Mayoral scored in the first leg to give Roma the lead. The Italians had the Bosnian on song again. The Giallorossi fans also had Spaniards Carles Perez and Borja Mayoral to thank for as they got on the scoreboard in second half to wrap a comfortable 3-1 win.
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— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) February 25, 2021
Here's our starting XI tonight! DAJE! ?
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The Italians started where they left off last week, bossing their rivals from the start to put the result beyond doubt. Braga held off in the early exchanges but were undone in the 24th minute. Stephan El Shaarawy rattled the outside of the right post and the rebound fell to Dzeko. The Roma stalwart did not need to be invited twice and sent a low effort inside the left post to make it 1-0.
Going down 3-0 on aggregate roused the travelers, who needed to score three or more to progress in the competition. They should have equalized on the night through Lucas Piazon. The former Chelsea man fired a powerful long-range shot which whisked close to the bar. Andraz Sporar also tried his luck from range and his shot from just outside the box was destined for the top right corner. Pau Lopez had other ideas and made an amazing save to maintain Roma’s lead.
The Romans conjured magic of their own in the dying moments of the first half. Pedro drifted into the box and received a fantastic pass. The wide man took his chance and shot from close range, but like El Shaarawy, the ball crashed against the frame. The referee would bring the first period to a close soon after.
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— SC Braga (@SCBragaOficial) February 25, 2021
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Not content with the easy win, Fonseca’s men would up the tempo in the second half. Joao Novais conceded a penalty which was taken by Lorenzo Pellegrini in Jordan Veertut’s absence. The Italian would miss from 12-yards out. However, Pellegrini would make up for his mistake and assist Carles Perez three minutes later to make it 2-0.
The match was heading towards a repeat scoreline. But the Giallorossi players still had more destruction on their minds. The thirst for hitting the back of the net was there even if it meant sending one in their own net. Bryan Cristante would make this mistake as his attempted block went past Pau Lopez.
Akin to the previous fixture, substitute Borja Mayoral returned Roma’s lead to two goals. Leonardo Spinazzola was the architect of the goal, sending the ball Mayoral’s way and only asking the Spaniard to tap it in. The Real Madrid loanee obliged as requested, to make it 3-1.
Roma now turn their attention to Serie A, where they take on the challenge of Milan. With fixtures coming in thick and the race for top-four positions heating up, a lot depends on the six point affair.
Another #UEL win! ✅
— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) February 25, 2021
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MATCH REPORT
February 25, 2021 – Europa League 2020-21 Round of 32
ROMA-BRAGA 3-1 (Roma advance 5-1 on aggregate)
SCORERS: 23′ Dzeko (R), 74′ Carles Perez (R), 87′ Cristante (R, o.g.), 91′ Borja Mayoral (R)
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ROMA (3-4-2-1): Pau Lopez; Karsdorp, Cristante, Mancini; Veretout (59′ Spinazzola), Villar (46′ Pellegrini), Diawara, Bruno Peres; El Shaarawy (59′ Carles Perez), Pedro (77′ Mkhitaryan); Dzeko (67′ Borja Mayoral) (Mirante, Fuzato, Ciervo, Darboe, Tripi) Coach: Fonseca |
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BRAGA (4-3-3): Tiago Sa; Ze Carlos, Vitor Tormena, Rolando, Nuno Sequeira (70′ Borja); Piazon (60′ Fransérgio), Novais, Gaitan (60′ Horta); Galeno (77′ Hernani Infande), Sporar (60′ Abel Ruiz), Horta (Matheus, Rogério, Al Musrati, Ricardo, Bruno Rodrigues, Vítor Oliveira) Coach: Carvalhal |
REFEREE: Ekberg (Sweden)
NOTES: Yellow Cards: Veretout (R); Extra Time: 1st Half 1′, 2nd Half 2′
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