Europa League: Viktoria Plzen hand Roma another defeat

Czech side Viktoria Plzen handed AS Roma their second consecutive Europa League defeat with a 2-1 win at the Stadium Olimpico on Thursday night.

Roma have now suffered three defeats in four competitive games, and this is also the first time they will concede two goals under Gian Piero Gasperini.

After going two goals behind in the first half, Paulo Dybala’s goal from the spot was not enough for them to recover from a nightmare start.

The Giallorossi entered the game on the back of two defeats in their last three games, against Lille and Inter, having missed a last-gasp penalty in the Europa League tie. 

Roma made a bright start as Ukrainian striker Artem Dovbyk stung the goalkeeper’s gloves within 49 seconds.

The visitors responded with Prince Adu’s volley onto the side-netting.

Roma showed the intention to go ahead with several attempts from Matias Soulé, including one smothered by the goalkeeper.

However, it was Plzen who broke the deadlock when Adu shrugged off Ziolkowski to get away down the left, beating Mile Svilar from a tricky angle.

The visitors compounded Roma’s woes as Cheick Souare doubles the lead for the after gathering the ball from outside the area and smashed a ferocious daisy-cutter into the far bottom corner with power and precision.

Roma were really struggling to create chances, leaving Dovbyk in no man’s land. Gasperini took a strong decision and hauled off Ziolkowski just 30 minutes into his first start, bringing in Stephan El Shaarawy for a total tactical reshuffle.

This almost worked as El Shaarawy got a shot on target, albeit accidentally charged down by teammate Dovbyk. The Italian then saw another volley well parried by the goalkeeper.

Roma then got a lifeline from the spot after a Niccolò Pisilli header was charged down by the flailing arm of Vaclav Jemelka in the six-yard box.

After a VAR review, referee awarded a penalty and  Dybala calmly rolled into the bottom corner, sending Martin Jedlicka the wrong way to net his 200th career goal between club and country.

After a much-needed penalty after the chaotic errors against Lille that reduced the deficit here, Roma continued to suffer in creating clear-cut chances.

Pisilli was off balance, making him scuff his finish at the back post while El Shaarawy’s curler flashed wide of the far post. 

Soulé continued to be lively but fired his shot over from the edge of the area.

Substitute Leon Bailey cut inside from the right and bent a wonderful left-foot finish inches wide of the far post from a long way out.

Roma continued the search for the equaliser as Evan N’Dicka’s header was straight at the goalkeeper from a Dybala corner in the stoppages.

Pisilli scored, but he was visibly offside after a free-kick routine and a ball over the top, and the visitors held on for a memorable win.