After three successive Serie A wins, Roma could not have had a better start to their UEFA Conference League campaign as they thrashed CSKA Sofia 5-1 at the Stadio Olimpico.
Things didn’t start well for the Giallorossi as the team from Bulgaria opened the scoring through Graham Carey. However, they managed to equalize through their captain Lorenzo Pellegrini before taking the lead through Stephan El Shaarawy.
Roma scored another three after the interval with their captain scoring his second of the match before Gianluca Mancini and Tammy Abraham put them 5-1 ahead. While CSKA Sofia had their moments, they were completely outplayed and had to play the final few minutes with one man less.
Roma maintained their perfect start to the season and netted five in their opening European game for the first time since 2014.
? Ecco la nostra formazione per #RomaCSKA ?
— AS Roma (@OfficialASRoma) September 16, 2021
DAJE ROMA!#ASRoma #UECL pic.twitter.com/dOzSO6E3Ly
Jose Mourinho made several changes to Roma’s XI as only four players started in their 2-1 win over Sassuolo. A number of regulars including Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Bryan Cristante, Abraham, and Jordan Veretout were benched. It was the first start of the season for El Shaarawy while Chris Smalling was making his first appearance.
Stoycho Mladenov also made a few changes from CSKA Sofia’s win over Slavia Sofia with Geferson, Jordy Caicedo missing from the matchday squad due to injury and suspension respectively. Amos Youga was also omitted. Instead, Bradley Mazikou, Plamen Galabov, and Kaloyan Krastev started.
Roma didn’t get off to the best of starts and surprisingly, it was the visitors who opened the scoring in the tenth minute thanks to Carey who beat Rui Patricio with a fine left-footed finish.
The Giallorossi nearly equalized shortly after conceding as Rick Karsdorp provided a fine delivery to Stephan El Shaarawy but the latter’s header went over the crossbar. The former Milan had another scoring chance but was foiled.
Roma gradually found their rhythm and kept attacking with Eldor Shomurodov coming close to finding the net but Busatto made a good save to deny him. Mourinho＆co. eventually equalized in the 25th minute thanks to a fine goal from their captain Lorenzo Pellegrini with Karsdorp providing the assist.
Roma kept dominating possession and were 2-1 up in the 38th minute after El Shaarawy shot past Busatto following some very good play from Shomurodov.
Just ?? ???? right now! ?
— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) September 16, 2021
#ASRoma #UECL #RomaCSKA pic.twitter.com/7XDKmHOHW9
Mourinho made one change during the interval as he subbed off Karsdorp and brought on Roger Ibanez. CSKA Sofia actually started the second half strongly and had more possession of the ball during the first few minutes. Muhar tried to find the net during this time but was foiled by Rui Patricio.
Roma made a couple more changes just before the hour-mark as Cristante and Veretout came on for Amadou Diawara and Gonzalo Villar respectively. A few minutes later, they extended their lead as Pellegrini made the most out of a Riccardo Calafiori pass to score his second of the match, thus taking his season’s goal tally to five.
The Roma skipper was later subbed off and received a huge ovation from the club’s supporters while Abraham came on for him.
CSKA were completely dominated as the half progressed and things went from bad to worse for them as they were reduced to ten men after Yanic Wildschut received a second yellow for fouling Carles Perez.
Roma took advantage of the extra man and scored twice through Mancini and Abraham to go 5-1 up. They could’ve had at least another one but Shomurodov, who really deserved to be on the scoresheet, hit the post.
In the end, it was a comprehensive win for Mourinho’s men who next play Verona on Sunday.
MATCH SCORECARD
September 16, 2021 – Conference League 2021-2022 Group C
ROMA – CSKA SOFIA 5-1
SCORERS: 10′ Carey (C), 25′ Pellegrini (R), 38′ El Shaarawy (R), 62′ Pellegrini (R), 82′ Mancini (R), 84′ Abraham (R)
 |
ROMA (4-3-3): Rui Patricio; Karsdorp (46′ Ibanez), Mancini, Smalling, Calafiori (77′ Kumbulla); Villar (58′ Veretout), Diawara (58′ Cristante); Carles Perez, Pellegrini (75′ Abraham), El Shaarawy; Shomurodov (Fuzato, Reynolds, Zaniolo, Mayoral, Darboe, Zalewski, Mkhitaryan) Coach: Mourinho |
 |
CSKA SOFIA (4-2-3-1): Busatto; Turitsov (74′ Donchev), Mattheij, Galabov, Mazikou; Yomov (68′ Bai), Muhar, Lam, Wildschut; Carey, Krastev (88′ Ahmedov) (Evtimov, Varela, Catakovic) Coach: Mladenov |
REFEREE: Nyberg (Sweden)
NOTES: Yellow Cards: Lam (C); Red Card: Wildschut (C); Added Time: 1st Half 3′, 2nd Half 3′