Conference League: Roma secures important draw against Leicester City

AS Roma secured an important draw at the King Power Stadium against Leicester City in the first leg of the Conference League semi-final.

The visitors had gone ahead through Lorenzo Pellegrini’s well-worked early goal.

But the Foxes restored parity through Ademola Lookman.

Although Roma can be pleased with a 1-1 away draw, there is no longer an away goal rule in all UEFA competitions again.

As promised, the football governing body used VAR technology for the semi-finals, and it will be replicated in the final of the Conference League.

With the second leg set for the Stadio Olimpico on May 5, Jose Mourinho’s men will be relishing the meeting with the hope of qualifying for the inaugural final of the tournament.

As it stands, whoever wins in the Capital will go through as away goal has been abolished by UEFA.

Leicester City got a boost with the return of Boubakary Soumare and Jamie Vardy after injuries, while Wilfred Ndidi and Ryan Bertrand still remain out of action.

On the part of the Giallorossi, Nicolò Zaniolo started after his quarter-final hat-trick against Bodo/Glimt.

Leicester were originally in the Europa League before being relegated here. This is following their third-place finish in the Europa League behind Spartak Moscow and Napoli.

Roma withstood the initial flurry of Leicester pressing and settled. They eventually took the lead as Nicola Zalewski cut inside from the left and timed his through ball perfectly to release Lorenzo Pellegrini. He nutmegged Kasper Schmeichel at the near post.

Lookman got a chance at goal again in the second half and threatened with his free header that went over the bar from six yards on a corner.

After Henrikh Mkhitaryan went off with a thigh injury, Leicester eventually utilised one of their many attacks.

Substitute Harvey Barnes got down the left and released a cross from the six-yard box, where a combination of Lookman and Gianluca Mancini bundled over the line.

The host continued to press further for the winner as Kelechi Iheanacho’s header went off target after good work from James Maddison.

Rui Patricio was also on hand to save his curler by fingertipping it round the post after Bryan Cristante was caught napping.

Roma were also looking for a goal that could make the return leg easier as Sergio Oliveira forced a great save at the near top corner from Schmeichel after Abraham’s back-heel flick.

 

Written by: Oladipupo Mojeed