Coppa Italia: Roma set up Rome derby by defeating Cremonese

Roma have set up a Rome derby after coming from behind to defeat Cremonese in the last of the Coppa Italia at Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday night.

All thanks to goals from Romelu Lukaku and Paulo Dybala, Roma overturned Cremonese, which knocked out Napoli in the past round.

Jose Mourinho’s men will now be looking forward to another Rome Derby after their first meeting this season ended in a stalemate.

This was revenge for the Gialorossi against the Grigiorossi, which had eliminated them from the competition last season and beaten them in Serie A.

They almost succeeded until the hosts turned the tie around. Knowing it was not a fixture to be taken for granted, Roma started with their full available squad.

The good start of the hosts had unsettled the visitors as four of their players got booked in the opening 16 minutes.

 Lorenzo Pellegrini’s free-kick was palmed out of the top corner while Zeki Celik made a crucial interception to prevent David Okereke from tapping in.

Double opportunity chaotically came Roma’s way. The first was Andreas Jungdal’s stunning save on Belotti sliding in at the back before Pellegrini then smashed the rebound onto the crossbar.

Diego Llorente took one for the team and got booked after a desperate tackle on Zanimacchia on the counter-attack. His free kick then just over the bar.

Cremonese went ahead by punishing their hosts. After some chaotic defending, Roma failed to clear their lines, and Paolo Ghiglione knocked it down for Frank Tsadjout to flick it around Cristante and score from six yards.

Roma were stopped from leveling matters as Tuia made a decisive last-ditch block to stop Belotti from scoring from eight yards.

 After Zanimacchia curled wide, Jose Mourinho made a triple substitution, including Paulo Dybala in front of a four-man defense.

The change almost paid off immediately. Dybala’s slide-rule pass found Lukaku only for a brave Valentin Antov defensive block.

The woodwork again denied Roma as Stephan El Shaarawy’s right-foot-angled drive was deflected off Antov onto the inside of the far post.

Mile Svilar flew out to stop Massimo Coda from going clear on a long ball from the Cremonese goalkeeper.

Dybala and El Shaarawy ballooned their efforts over the bar while Leandro Paredes’ daisy cutter was deflected off target.

Roma eventually restored parity with a well-worked team move. Lukaku’s dummy led to the Dybala pass-through for Sardar Azmoun, who immediately laid it off for the Belgian to sweep home.

After piling more pressure on their visitors, Roma, who were pouring forward, were awarded a  generous penalty for the mistimed Leonardo Sernicola tackle on Leonardo Spinazzola, as there was very little contact.

Dybala made no mistake from the spot, converting powerfully into the bottom corner to turn the game around.

Written by Oladipupo Mojeed