Roma have punched their ticket to the group stage of the first edition of the European Conference League. After winning 1-2 on the road, the Giallorossi held serve at home, beating Trabzonspor three-nil. Nicolò Zaniolo returned to the stat-sheet after two major injures, bursting into tears after doubling the lead in the second half.
José Mourinho fielded all his regulars in his customary 4-2-3-1, with Tammy Abraham spearheading the frontline. The qualification never really looked in jeopardy. Roma managed to break the deadlock 20 minutes into the game. Rick Karsdorp motored down the right flank and slid it to Bryan Cristante, who put it in the bottom corner with a daisy-cutter from outside the box.
The Giallorossi almost scored again shortly thereafter. However, a defender blocked a shot by Lorenzo Pellegrini after a lovely interplay between Cristante and Abraham. Trabzonspor tried to turn up the heat at the beginning of the second half, but they could re-open the contest. Rui Patricio palmed away a dangerous header by Vitor Hugo. Instead, Abraham rattled the post in similar fashion on the other end.
The Portuguese goalkeeper also denied a superb volley by Marek Hamsik from close range. Roma sealed the deal at 68th minute with Zaniolo. The Italian starlet slipped behind the offside trap on a longball, shielded himself from an opponent and finished with aplomb in front of the goalie. Stephan El Shaarawy rounded out the result in the later stages of the matches, waltzing in the box before hitting the net with a precise strike.
That one meant a lot! Daje Nico!
#ASRoma #UECL #RomaTS pic.twitter.com/Aw1uenNxPt— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) August 26, 2021