AS Roma 2-1 Porto
The Champions League battle between Roma and Porto is still very much on after the visitors left the Stadio Olimpico with just a one-goal deficit and a crucial away goal.
After a scrappy first half, the game exploded into life in a dramatic ten minutes. Teenage star Nicolo Zaniolo had the night of his life, scoring twice before Porto halved the deficit, putting the tie right in the balance.
Eusebio Di Francesco’s Roma could have finished top of their group had they not been so wasteful against Real Madrid in a group match, but the draw was—on the face of it—kind to the Giallorossi.
However, last year’s semi-finalists came into the game still smarting after a humiliating 7-1 Coppa Italia mauling at the hands of Fiorentina. And the boss urged his team to stay focused, reminding them of the importance of keeping a clean sheet in the Champions League knockout phase.
Well, they failed to do that, though they do have their noses in front.
Highlights of the game
Porto topped Group D to reach the last 16, but they hadn’t met opponents quite as experienced in Europe as Roma. And head coach Sergio Conceicao clearly set his team up to hassle and harry the hosts in a scrappy start in which neither keeper had much to do in the opening half hour.
Things changed, however, when Roma’s Bryan Cristante passed to Lorenzo Pellegrini who let fly from outside the box. Unfortunately, his effort was held by Iker Casillas.
Minutes later, Roma keeper Antonio Mirante was called into action when Otavio fed Fernando who shot low towards the corner.
As the pace began to step up, Fernando fouled Zaniolo. And when Pellegrini swung the free-kick in, Kostas Manolas headed wide.
Pellegrini was the provider again when Edin Dzeko powered a header in, but he too was off target. Then, on 37 minutes, the ex-Manchester City man came close to scoring, taking a pass from Federico Fazio only to send a low shot that was saved by Casillas.
The second half began as the first had finished, with Roma on the front foot.
Cristante brought a save from Casillas before both Pellegrini and Stephan El Shaarawy fired over.
Pellegrini had two efforts saved after that, but on 70 minutes, Roma’s persistence paid off. Dzeko passed to Zaniolo, and the 19-year-old fired low into the corner beyond the unlucky Casillas who must have thought this was going to be his night.
Roma doubled their lead minutes later when Zaniolo rebounded the ball off the post for a six-yard rocket. Man-of-the-match Pellegrini passed to Dzeko whose shot crashed against the post, but the ball bounced to Zaniolo who made no mistake from close range.
If we thought that was it, we were wrong!
Just three minutes later, Porto halved the deficit when Adrian Lopez received a pass from Tiquinho Soares on the right side of the box and shot low into the bottom left corner.
Hector Herrera came close to equalising, but his shot from distance flew narrowly wide. While Roma tried to nudge a further goal ahead, Porto held out comfortably.
Key statistics
The pre-match Champions League 2019 betting odds pointed to a tight game, with Roma expected to win at SBOBET.
This is the first time Roma have beaten Porto in five attempts, and it’s the first time Porto have scored a goal at this stage of the Champions League. I suspect the visitors will be the happier of the two.
They have now lost seven of their last eight Champions League games in Italy, so I guess this wasn’t a surprise and Porto will be relishing the second leg on home soil.
What’s next?
The Giallorossi are currently sixth in Serie A, one of four teams chasing the fourth spot with only a point separating them. They should pick up three points when 17th-placed Bologna come to town (though the visitors are scrapping for their lives and have lost just one in four in the league).
Next up, Porto are at home to Vitoria Setubal in the league. Conceicao’s men are top by a point in a three-way battle for the top two places in the Primeira Liga.
And then these two teams will get it on all over again in Portugal. There’s everything to play for with the tie on a knife edge, and we’ll be right there with all the Champions League 2019 updates.
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