A win for the honor. After last week’s slaughter at Old Trafford, Roma’s chances to make it to the Europa League Final were basically non-existing, but the Giallorossi managed to bow out of the competition with style as they edged Manchester United 3-2 at the Stadio Olimpico.
Once again, Roma woke up late and paid the price for a suicidal approach to the first leg of their European match-up. Just like three years ago, when they lost 2-5 to Liverpool in a Champions League Semi-Final first leg to partially come back and win 4-2 the second game.
Roma are an incomplete masterpiece, who always seem to be on the edge of greatness. Their European blitzes mostly follow the same pattern: Some exciting exploit, followed by a sounding squandering of their chances, and then a late comeback to only prove that, after all, the Giallorossi did have what it takes to do better than that.
José Mourinho will have much work to do. But, at least, the shocking announcement that the Special One will take command of the Giallorossi next season was enough to trigger some reaction from a depressed side that, on top of losing the first-leg with Manchester 2-6, are winless in the last 4 Serie A games and seriously at risk of missing the European train for next season.
For Roma, it was a night of regrets. Just like one week ago, Edinson Cavani scored a brace for Manchester. But it was the Red Devils who ended up trailing in the second half, and if their goalkeeper David De Gea – who was linked with a possible move to Rome right today – didn’t go above and beyond perhaps the final score could have been different.
Another dramatic European night…
#ASRoma #UEL #RomaManUtd pic.twitter.com/WCvCBoMCXz— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) May 6, 2021
After the Uruguay international opened the scoring in the first half, Roma equalized with an Edin Dzeko header (this could end up being one of his last goals in Giallorosso as the Bosnian is set to leave a the end of the season) and even managed to put their heads ahead as Bryan Cristante fired the ball into the top corner of De Gea’s goal around the one hour mark.
Cavani’s second of the night came on 68 minutes, before 19-year-old debutant Nicola Zalewski would set the score at 3-2 with a beautiful volley from a Davide Santon cross. The Italian-Polish product of Roma’s youth academy seem to be one to watch.
At full time, Manchester comfortably cruised into the Europa League Final, where they will meet surprise package Villarreal. Roma played for their honor and, at the end of the day, managed to salvage at least that. Now it’s time to plan for the next season. Hoping that it’s going to be a “special one.”
Our European adventure ends here.
It was not the same without you all there with us, but we still felt your support every step of the way.
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— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) May 6, 2021
MATCH REPORT
May 6, 2021 – Europa League 2020-2021 Semi Finals
ROMA-MANCHESTER UNITED 3-2 (Manchester United advance 8-5 on aggregate)
SCORER: 39′ Cavani (M), 57′ Dzeko (R), 60′ Cristante (R), 68′ Cavani (M), 83′ Zalewski (R)
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ROMA (4-2-3-1): Mirante; Karsdorp, Smalling (30′ Darboe), Ibanez, Bruno Peres (69′ Santon); Cristante, Mancini; Pedro (77′ Zalewski), Pellegrini, Mkhitaryan; Dzeko (77′ Borja Mayoral) (Fuzato, Boer, Kumbulla, Bove, Ciervo) Coach: Fonseca |
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MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Wan-Bissaka (46′ Williams), Bailly, Maguire, Shaw (46′ Telles); Van de Beek, Fred; Greenwood, Bruno Fernandes (84′ Mata), Pogba (64′ Matic); Cavani (73′ Rashford) (Henderson, Grant, Lindelof, Diallo, Tuanzebe, McTominay, Elanga) Coach: Solskjaer |
REFEREE: Brych (Germany)
NOTES: Yellow Cards: Karsdorp, Cristante (R), Wan-Bissaka, Fred, Cavani, Williams (M); Extra Time: 1st Half 3′, 2nd Half 4′