Categoria: AS Roma Corner

Rubrica in inglese gestita dagli amici del Roma Club Dublino

0 Roma 1-1 Ajax ‘Semi-awake’

16 Aprile 2021
Stefano Sale
· AS Roma Corner

Roma are in the semifinals of the Europa League. The opponent will be Manchester United. Another English team is back as the last obstacle to the cup final. Similar to the ride in the Champions League of a few years ago then closed against Liverpool. Another very prestigious result. But now it’s time to raise the bar.

Roma have come a long way in Europe and eliminated important teams like Ajax last night. A lot of suffering, of course. That was expected. But the extreme containment tactic of the first half was perhaps not the best option. Defending and starting again, yes, but being crushed in that way constantly could cost you dearly.

And in fact, Roma then risked a little less when in the second half they came out of their shell after Ajax took the lead. It was important to keep them in their own half, and look for the safety goal. Which then came. Again he, the cup hero Edin Dzeko to unravel the problem, after the cancellation of their doubling from the Var, that luckily puts the result back in place.

Along with Edin, good play by Cristante, Karsdorp and Mayoral, very good at keeping the ball in the last 10 minutes. And Calafiori also for the assist to Edin. The final whistle was a liberation. And here we are now. At Old Trafford we will have to play like at the Amsterdam Arena. We are underdogs but we will play for it. Head and heart. Bring it on. Until April 29th. Forza Roma!

0 Ajax 1-2 Roma ‘Roger’s bomb’

9 Aprile 2021
Stefano Sale
· AS Roma Corner

Without Mkhitaryan, Smalling, Karsdorp and all the other long-term patients. To which are added the usual muscle injuries that have gripped us for the last century during matches. Spinazzola went like a train last night, then surrendered. Calafiori inside. We all feared the worst. An almost announced collapse that was slowly materializing. The Diawara-Mancini mess says it all.

In short, here is the usual Roma that goes into confusion after a negative episode. Then the turning point you don’t expect. Pau Lopez. Joy and sorrows. A mix between Yashin and Goicoechea. The one that was taken because he was strong with his feet but which is perhaps a little better between the posts.

After a few too many uncertainties here is the spell on Tadic. He doesn’t move. He stays there pointing and rejects with his fists the penalty of the turning point. The team takes courage. Then the turn in reverse. Their goalkeeper does worse and gift us the draw. Pau instead starts his show again, between improvised rescues and instinctive saves.

Then the apotheosis a few minutes from the end. Roger’s bomb. Chest stop and missile that fills the net. A masterpiece mix between Falcao and Agostino. Who thanks from up there. Rome explodes with joy. A little luck every now and then also passes through here. But that’s not all. Far from it. On the way back it will be a bedlam. A perfect Roma will be needed and Fonseca knows it well. Meanwhile, we are there. Manchester too. Ad Maiora.

0 Roma 3-0 Shakhtar ‘EuroQuarters’

14 Marzo 2021
Stefano Sale
· AS Roma Corner

After the comforting results in the league with the latest victories against Fiorentina and Genoa, the Europa League confirms that Roma are in good health, despite the defeat against Milan.

Roma played one of the best matches of the season against Shakhtar, against a tough opponent. But the tactics adopted by the Ukrainian coach turned out to be a boomerang. A very high defense to press on the Giallorossi half to close the spaces, but which did not last long.

Over time, the orange shirts have been overcome with the insertions of ours, deadly cuts with the right timing that have ended up crumbling to former team of Mr. Fonseca. Among the author’s performances, Lorenzo Pellegrini certainly stands out, they happen everywhere, with plays. top class goals and assists.

Great performance also by Pau Lopez who saves the result at least on a couple of occasions, good between the posts but less with his feet, unlike his opposite on the other side of the field. In defense good play by Kumbulla and the usual Cristante in the role of central defender. Best of the field in my opinion is Gianluca Mancini, leader and goalscorer, on and off the pitch. Smalling was not there as a precaution and will not be available for the next one either.

Villar finds himself playing a little further ahead with Diawara behind in a solid, compact and concentrated midfield helped very well by Karsdorp and Spinazzola on the flanks. In front Miki and Pedro are running well, too bad for the Armenian injury, the Spaniard moved well until he came out, but then El Shaarawy enters and upsets the game for the right way, great goal and a lot of quality. Mayoral good for movement when he enters but not very polished in front of goal lately.

Eventually the team comes out of this game victorious and with a foot and a half in the quarterfinals, crossing their fingers. Older players will remember an unfortunate episode in 1980 against Carl Zeiss Jena, three to zero in the first leg with goals from Pruzzo, Ancelotti and Falcao, but then incredibly defeated four to nil in the second leg in an incredible match in old East Germany.

Well, maybe we would like to repeat the match against Slavia Prague, without the goal in the second leg that cost us the last-ditch qualification, one of the blackest pages of the Roma fan in the European field. I’m sure this time it will go differently. Now head to Parma, score points to keep the Champions place. Daje Roma.

0 Roma 1 Milan 2 ‘Oblivion’

2 Marzo 2021
Stefano Sale
· AS Roma Corner

Another Roma story gone pear-shape. Whenever you need to raise the bar. That famous leap going to the future. Roma goes back 10 years. The new stadium plans have been erased by the new american owners. Too complicated, bureacratic and no longer cost-effective. Ten years gone in one statement. Another stadium will be built in a different location. We’ll see.

In the meantime on the pitch we have taken a similar direction. Roma unable to step up and beat a direct competitor. Now no longer a competitor. Milan has taken Roma by storm. The first twenty minutes looked like a horror movie, with an Hitchcock finale. We were battered to the floor and if Milan were not up by three goal after twenty minutes it’s only their fault. Then they managed to score one just about when Roma looked back in the game. Mystery.

However, Roma did manage to pick themselves up afterwards, creating some great chances with equalising eventually. And with the game going fairly equal here’s the usual referees to spoil everything. A soft penalty called by the tv people also known as Var, when the ref on the pitch did not think so. So that was it. But then Mancini’s header with Miki’s goal was disallowed for heading and leaning on their defender, while the same ref allowed the same goal to stand in Milan’s favour vs. Verona not so long ago. That goal was scored by Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Differences.

And then, the cherry on the cake. Miki is brought down by Theo, a clear penalty that would give Roma the chance to equalise. The ref thinks otherwise, calling a previous foul that does not exist. Var does not intervene. Ref should go and review it by the same token but he doesn’t. Another farce. Roma were simply robbed.

At the same we cannot deny that Milan were impressive for most of the game, played better than Roma in the 90 minutes and so they are deservedly winners. But in football games aren’t won only because played better. Roma were nevertheless stripped of their entitlement. Denied. Not good enough.

And not good enough the way we played, especially those dreadful 20 minutes. The chase is now over, we are just not equipped to challenge for the league title. We must aim to get a fourth place spot and try to progress in Europe. It won’t be easy, though. Contending with Atalanta, Napoli, Lazio. Ir will be paramount not to fall in despair, as we normally do. Fiorentina next tomorrow night. Tough test. We must pull our socks up and react. Forza Roma.

0 Roma 3-1 Braga ‘Last 16’

28 Febbraio 2021
Stefano Sale
· AS Roma Corner

Roma returned to Europe after the Benevento disappointment. We had not been able to create any dangers despite Dzeko, Pedro and El Sharaawy together later with Borja Mayoral. Too many forwards stamping on each other’s feet. Too much confusion in seeking unlikely solutions to undermine their excellent defense.

In the end, a strong disappointment for not having brought home the three points. A wasted opportunity to shorten the gap with Milan. An opportunity that now comes back against the Rossoneri on Sunday evening. Same goes for the Europa League. Mission accomplished against Braga, ready for the last 16 clash against another former team of Paulo Fonseca.

We meet Shakthar Donetsk reminiscent of that incredible save by Peres on the line a few years that took us forward in the Champions League. Only three opponents now separate us with the cup final. Who knows if it will be the right time. But now Milan arrives, already back from the defeat with Inter in the derby, now slipped behind the Nerazzurri. Watershed challenge. A Milan that always remains dangerous despite an evident decline.

But we are still crippled with injuries, out Smalling and Ibañez in defense, and without Edin Dzeko, too. Cristante will play with Mancini and with either Fazio or Jesus, if Kumbulla is not fit. The team can continue the positive streak, let’s resume the journey, we now have El Sharaawy as the extra ace to play upfront. This is the real opportunity. We have to beat Milan. Time to beat competitor teams at the top. The definitive leap that will give us momentum also for the European journey. Forza Roma.

0 Benevento 0-0 Roma ‘Brick on the wall’

22 Febbraio 2021
Stefano Sale
· AS Roma Corner · Rubriche

Frustration and disappointment. Roma failed to get the three points at the Vigorito against ten men Benevento. Barely created any chances, not even in the 30 minutes with the extra man.

Over 60% ball possession but hardly any shots recorded. Unable to build a decent chance against a solid backline organised by Pippo Inzaghi’s men. Unable to breakthrough despite bringin on Dzeko, Pedro and El Sharaawy to help Borja Mayoral upfront. In the end, too much congestion and too much confusion.

The last few minutes saw Benevento trying to sneak it on the counter, but most of all Roma went very close to score, only denied by a goal line clearance. And of course, here’s the penalty awarded that could change the match. Minute 95. Last few seconds. Var check. Offside spotted.

Simply wasn’t meant to be. Benevento deserved the point for fighting hard with 10 men. Roma just didn’t do enough. A wasted opportunity to close the gap with Milan. Now, the rossoneri are next. Pity. Before that, Europa League second leg. Same for Milan, who got thrashed by Inter in the milanese derby, now trailing behind the nerazzurri. So, the big clash on Sunday. Another opportunity. Let’s catch it this time. Daje Roma.

0 Braga 0-2 Roma ‘Eurojump’

21 Febbraio 2021
Stefano Sale
· AS Roma Corner

Convincing victory vs. Udinese. Convincing victory in Braga in the Europa League. Roma finds itself with the Dzeko case filed away. Last week we overcame the Udinese hurdle with ease, always in the first half, now a trademark. Now Europe is back. Fonseca operates several changes to gice a break, make someone catch their breath and for the usual injuries, not subsided.

After Smalling and Kumbulla we are now definitely decimated in defense, with Cristante and Ibañez out too. In the meantime, we get by pretty well with those who are back. From the return of the ‘Swan from Sarajevo’, on the pitch from the first minute, immediately with a great goal. Well done Edin. Then, Mayoral replaces him in the second half and scores the goal of the deserved doubling. Pedro is back too, good performance for him, a bit unlucky.

And Diawara is also back and had a very good game in midfield. Finally, Pharaoh El Sharaawy is also back, making his debut to warm up the engine in the last minutes. In short, sorry for the defense in an emergency but in the meantime Roma are returning home with the qualification in hand. Waiting for the championship.

In Benevento on Sunday it is not known who will go on the pitch, someone will have to sacrifice themselves to play in defense with Mancini. The important thing is to play like this, with conviction and determination. The spirit is the right one. We must not give up. Daje Roma!

0 Juventus 2 Roma 0 “CRzero”

12 Febbraio 2021
Stefano Sale
· AS Roma Corner

There is no match with Juve without controversy. And almost always when there is a defeat in the way, which is not unusual when you go to play in Turin. The statements of some players after the game went under scrutiny, for some with a tone a little too positive for an ‘honorable’ defeat. It remains to be seen if this is a positive attitude or not, if being satisfied with losing for having played a decent game is the right mentality to cheer up.

Luciano Spalletti for example did not think so, raging against everyone after the honorable defeat in Madrid against Real. In short, Roma made 12 shots and Juve only 3, good ball possession but without being able to sting, thanks to an almost impenetrable defense. Hardly any shot on target. The jaunty Juve does the opposite and wins with minimal effort. If with the big teams Roma disappeared at the first difficulty, in Turin imposed the game play, no doubt, but the fact remains that Pirlo this time seems to have waited on purpose, to hit on the counter. Or was it our merit? Half empty or half full glass? Great discussion topic.

The fact is that while many appreciated the desire of the team on the pitch, others a bit less with the declarations later, a bit triumphalistic after yet another defeat. Yet, those who insult on social media are to be condemned. Always. Now we start again with our feet on the ground, fourth place is our goal. Forza Roma.

0 Roma 3-1 Verona ‘Hellish’

4 Febbraio 2021
Stefano Sale
· AS Roma Corner

Roma wins and convinces. With Mayoral and without Dzeko. An important victory that is still worth third place, even if Juve and Napoli have one game in hand. IT was a llively Roma that in the first half suffocated Verona with three goals in 10 minutes, thanks to a great Miki spaired with Borja and with Captain Lorenzo who is living his best moment since wearing this shirt. Too bad for the yellow card, he won’t be available for the Juve match on Saturday.

That said, a test of strength even if the team still loses focus in the second half with wrong passes and defensive mistakes that we must avoid. Smalling’s umpteenth injury is worrying and in Saturday’s big match against the bianconeri Fonseca will have to reinvent the set-up behind them, we’ll see if with Kombulla or Cristante. In the meantime, Pharaoh El Shaarawy has returned home and together with Big Bad Boy Reynolds they will give us a big hand as soon as they are in condition.

And Edin Dzeko is back too, not that he left but simply no buyers were found. Roma would have gladly sent him away, a disciplinary but also a financial issue. He now he remains with us and available, an inevitable truce, for the good of all. And it is also good for Roma, if Edin returns to the field convinced then he still remain a strong player, essential for us. We need to see the emotional reaction of him after the club punishment, as he’s downgraded, given that as of today he is no longer the captain of the team, as pointed out by the new director Pinto. The important thing is that Roma continue to win, we must go forward in serenity without internal conflicts, then we will do the reckoning in June, with everyone, with Dzeko but also with Fonseca. In the end, it’s always the results that count. Starting from Saturday in Turin. Daje Roma.

0 Roma 4-3 Spezia ‘Edin or not’

29 Gennaio 2021
Stefano Sale
· AS Roma Corner

Something is not right. The day after the Cup match, the team mutinied against those who had placed all the blame on former team manager Gianluca Gombar, asking for reinstatement among other things. But if it wasn’t just Gombar’s fault, who else had to be aware of certain field regulations: perhaps his coach and staff? In short, the team complained that someone had not taken responsibility for him, with poor Lorenzo Pellegrini who immediately became aware of what was happening.

From that moment on, the scapegoat became Edin Dzeko, guilty of a few words too many addressed to Fonseca and his staff, with the team that then wins the next game with La Spezia on a razor’s edge, coincidentally thanks to Lorenzo, new Captain at Edin’s own expense, excluded from the coach. The hug with the players on the pitch is perhaps a sign that now a part of the team is with the coach, while Dzeko has been sidelined for the alleged dispute, and there is someone who would like him away from Rome immediately. But why.

Only a few weeks ago with Sampdoria he made us win the game at the bottom of the class. Given that the Bosnian has not performed as he should this year so far, at the age of 35, he remains the champion leader of this team, he is as integral and decisive as Ronaldo and Ibra can be. If it’s not a question of money or engagement then he must absolutely stay. If Fonseca makes it a personal matter he is wrong and it would not be right, but if it is to give a signal to the team then it is good, but now the relationship must be mended. If Edin has asked to return and make himself available with the right commitment, then Fonseca must put him back in. Then we will do the reckoning accounts in June. With all.

Roma need everyone now if they want to reach the Champions League, we can’t rely on Mayoral alone. With Verona at the gates, it is important to be energized, united, all together to reach the fourth place goal. A Verona that is a bit of a compromise between Atalanta and Sassuolo, a short, fast team that can hurt anyone. A game that you can only win if you play from Rome. The approach must not be the one seen with Lazio but not even the one seen with Spezia. We start again from minute 93, from Lorenzo’s goal. Together.

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