Score: A.S Roma 3 Torino 2FT
Following an ugly Victory against Florentina at the Stadio Olimpico Roma try to keep their momentum going and keep their unbeaten streak alive. This would be one of the of the biggest games of the season as they could confirm 5th place and automatic qualification to the Europa League. They went on the road to face Torino at the Stadio Grande Torino in what would be their second match of the season. In their first meeting, Torino beat Roma at the Stadio Olimpico under controversial circumstances. On top of the motivation surrounding the match, they had a chance to level the series season series after being unjustified in their defeat earlier in the year. Even without Lorenzo Pellegrini Roma dominated the first part of the match. Despite this, it was Torino that struck first as Alejandro Berenguer gave them a 1-0 lead. It didn’t last very long edin Dzeko within minutes got Roma back into the game scoring his 106th Roma go taking him to fourth on the all-time scoring list. Roma was in more or less control the majority of the first half and near the very end in the opening 45 minutes, Chris Smalling gave Roma a 2-1 lead as his header makes the difference. In the second half, it became more of a battle between two strong teams. Edin Dzeko put together an incredible performance in his mentality and his movements allowed Roma to have an opportunity to put the game away for good when the Bosnian drew a penalty in the area. Edin Dzeko gave the ball to Diawara who converted from the spot to give Roma a 3-1 lead. Torino minimizes the deficit just a few minutes later however Roma reclaimed their control late in the game as they hold off Torino as Roma pick up a really important three points. They have a four-point advantage in front of 6th Place AC Milan as Roma earn automatic qualification for next year’s Europa League. They came they saw they conquered as Roma get the points that were needed for next year’s Europa League campaign.
Paulo Fonseca would set up his Roma team out of their 3-4-2-1 formation. They were barely any changes in the side that picked up three points at home against Florentina on Sunday. In goal between the sticks as always would be the Spaniard Pau Lopez. As the left Center back would be the Serbian Alex Kolarov, beside him centrally would be Chris Smalling then as the right center back would be Gianluca Mancini. They would be a slight change in the defensive Midfield with Jordan veretout starting the game on the bench. The defensive Midfield will be made up of Diawara and Bryan cristante. In at the left-wing back will be Leonardo spinazzola then on the opposite side as the right wing-back would be a Bruno Peres. In the attacking Midfield with Lorenzo Pellegrini out with a broken nose, Roma would line up with Henrikh Mkhitaryan on the left & Carles Perez on the right. Then upfront as Roma Central Striker would be Roma Captain edin Dzeko. As always Roma will have options Off the Bench with the likes of Nicolo zaniolo, Jordan veretout, and others.
After preparation then predictions the match was just about to get underway at the Stadio Grande Torino in what is a crucially important match for Roma. With a victory 5th place and automatic Europa League qualification gets all wrapped up. Roma dominated possession and looked have control early. Torino in the early part of the game even found it difficult to gain possession of the ball. In the opening 10 minutes, Roma nearly broke through as a breakaway with Leonardo spinazzola but was denied by the goalkeeper. In what was a very close call for Torino. Roma word has control game but unfortunately, Torino got their one chance and took advantage of it. In 14th minute Alejandro Berenguer finished off a counter-attack with Gianluca Mancini trying to get in the way but it did not stop Torino from taking the lead. However, their lead did not last very long just two minutes later Roma equalized. In the 16th minute, henrikh Mkhitaryan supplied a through ball into the box as he finds edin Dzeko who drills the ball into the bottom corner to level the scores. It would be the 19th goal of the season for edin Dzeko and his 106th Roma goal putting him at 4th in club history. Roma took the momentum and only continued to drive it and it was only going to be a matter of time before they took the lead. Once again Leonardo spinazzola came really close on another Roman attack. His shot set up a corner kick. In the 23rd minute, Carlos Perez supplied a well-hit cross coming from the corner that found the head of Chris Smalling who buried the cross into the back of the net to give Roma a 2-1 lead. All of a sudden Roma went from a goal down to into the lead. Roma continue to press high up and looked antagonizing on the break. Roma nearly almost got a third in the closing moments of the first half when Alex Kolarov hit the post coming off a free-kick. Mkhitaryan had a late strike that misfired as the first half came to a close with Roma just 45 minutes away from automatic Europa League qualification thanks to goals from edin Dzeko and Chris Smalling.
Edin Dzeko’s Equalizer takes him to 4th on Roma’s scoring list
All things considered despite conceding a goal Roma had a really strong first half. They only were behind for 2 minutes before they got themselves back into the game. This team is a different level of quality over the last couple of games and only continues in the first half. They had the momentum driving them and just needed 45 more minutes to confirm automatic qualification for the Europa League. However, Torino was very lucky not to have two players sent off in the first half. In the early part of the second half, Roma still looked confident on the ball and we’re pressing high up the pitch presenting some difficulties for Torino. However, Torino found life in the second half and at times made things difficult. Sasha lukic struck from distance trying to get them back in the game. Roma went to the bench for the first time as Zappacosta came in for Leonardo spinazzola. As had up and down of a season as Leonardo spinazzola but I’m really starting to like him in this position and what he is able to provide. In the second half, it became more of a nip-and-tuck battle. Torino would get in dangerous areas and look like they were on the verge of breaking through then Roma would turn around and get on the counter using their high press to try to orchestrate difficult opportunities for the home team to handle. Roma with a slightly better team in the second half but collectively did find some issues and maintaining their momentum that they took into the second half. Henrikh Mkhitaryan and edin Dzeko pushed forward together. The Bosnian showed his incredible skills cutting inside before he was pushing into the box with great confidence. He was in the process, taken out and the referee pointed to the penalty. despite having an opportunity to extend his goal-scoring record with Roma edin Dzeko gave the ball to Diawara. The African midfielder plays a very defensive role and does not have many opportunities to score. The Bosnian selflessly gave the ball up. Diawara stepped up and slotted home the penalty to give Roma a 3-1 lead. It appeared the job was all but done. It would be the first goal the midfielder has scored in the Roma colors an only his second goal ever scored in Italian football. It just kind of felt like the job was over but things didn’t exactly go that way. In the 65th minute, Torino found their way back by the youngest player on the pitch. Singel cut down the right side before hitting a Well hit strike at Lopez however the Spaniard did not do nearly well enough as the ball kind of slipped through his hands as the home team minimized the deficit. After the goal Roma made three changes bringing on Jordan veretout, Rodger Ibanez, Nicolo zaniolo. Torino really had some serious momentum at many points but Roma did start to pull away and regain control. Even after Andrea Belotti came on Roma tried to maintain the Possession and see this thing out. Jordan veretout connected with Nicolo zaniolo as the young Italian barely missed nearly giving Roma a third. A minute later Alex Kolarov missed inside as a Roma continue to try to put pressure on the backline. Then in the closing moments of the game and Edin Dzeko cut inside the box and dribbled around a few Defenders before sending the ball into the top corner. However, the goal was taken away because of an alleged offside decision. At no point was he outside maybe a fingernail but no part of his body indicated he was in an offside position taking another goal away from edin Dzeko who had an incredible performance. however, it didn’t make a difference as the referee blew the whistle signifying the end of the game as Roma get the job done getting the points necessary to confirm automatic qualification for Europa League football next season. Roma will finish in fifth this season as Roma goes on the road winning 3-2 more than making up for their previous loss to Torino as they take their momentum and take it even further as Roma extends their unbeaten streak to seven games.
Diawara converts from the spot getting first Roma goal
Roma gets the points necessary to take them four points in front of AC Milan with just one game to go. They have officially qualified for next year’s Europa League group stage. AC Milan has been on their back since the restart and now Roma can rest as they fight off both AC Milan and Napoli to earn 5th Place. Not only that Roma only continues to pick up the momentum that’s only going to drive them towards the Europa League that starts in a week. Roma completely dominated the first half despite conceding in this game the game never was really in any doubt. Even though at times Torino looked threatening at the end Roma was the better team and proved it throughout the 90 minutes. Torino started with Andrea Belotti the team’s best player on the bench and they’re starting goalkeeper on the bench meaning it showed that the performance itself wasn’t that important to them. Having survived and confirmed safety last week. Nonetheless, outside of those two key players, it was a more or less typical Torino team. Edin Dzeko and Chris Smalling scored in the first half to give Roma the advantage going into the break. It would be Edin Dzeko 106th goal taking him fourth all time. He is more or less solidified his status within the club as a legend. He’s one of the greatest players to ever play for Roma. Hoping and praying that it is Justified with a trophy in a couple of weeks. In the second half Torino came out with a real energized mentality and they made things a little bit more difficult on Roma. Even with all that Roma, I thought did a respectable job of holding them off. Even if they presented some challenges. A fantastic edin Dzeko run that ultimately took him out inside of the box gave Roma the goal that created the separation they needed. Diawara stepped up and converted the penalty giving Roma a cushion. Even though Torino managed to get a goal back Roma did what was asked of them and got the points necessary holding on to a 3-2 win. Roma has just operated on a completely different level since the adjustments were made not that long ago. This was the seven the game without a loss. They are one of the best inform teams in Italian football over the last month. After a really bad they got themselves in gear Tonight’s man of the match quite clearly quite obviously goes to edin Dzeko tonight it wasn’t even close. The Bosnian striker in Roma Captain was operating on a different type of level. He did absolutely everything he supplied in the attack and really linked up with his counterparts really well. He’s fought for the ball showed some really fantastic pieces of skill was exceptional in the holdup play once again scoring a goal that puts him in a very exclusive class drawing a penalty that allowed Roma to get the separation needed all around a fantastic performance. Edin Dzeko even scored another one in stoppage time but it was wrongly ruled out for offside. It was a complete game he did everything well from Crossing to dribbling to facilitating showing his own selfishness and just showed what team players supposed to do. He even gave the penalty to Diawara allowing the defensive midfielder to get a rare goal. Collectively as a team Roma we’re together and they showed it tonight. Outside of a few circumstances within a game, Roma played like a team that we’re fighting for something. If Roma can play like this through the rest of the season and into the Europa League I’ll tell you what even without Lorenzo Pellegrini they have a chance and once again to competitions like that anything can happen. However, most importantly this team has progressed even more this season as they finished in fifth place with three points today which takes them into the Europa League. An all-around collected performance only further justifying that Paulo Fonseca is slowly but surely Changing Life in the Italian capital.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Edin Dzeko
Everything Roma 