Roma close to knock-out stage after winning at Helsinki

Series A side AS Roma returned to winning ways in the Europa League as they recovered in Helsinki to win 2-1.

All thanks to a goal from Tammy Abraham and an own goal, while VAR was used to disallow a goal for each team.

To progress in the tournament, the Gialorossi will still need to beat Ludogorets.

Their chance of qualifying was boosted earlier after Real Betis defeated Ludogorets 1-0. This gives Roma a chance to finish joint second with the Bulgarians before their head-to-head at the Stadio Olimpico.

Since Ludogorets won their first meeting, Roma must win to go through.

The hosts started brightly as Chris made two important recoveries in the opening minutes after Mady Camara and Matias Vina’s errors. 

 Rui Patricio was later called into action when he palmed away a Hoskonen header on a corner.

Before getting a goal, Tammy Abraham tested the goalkeeper, Arttu Hoskonen.

Meanwhile, the crossbar denied Roma from scoring from corners initially. The visitors got the first chance through Bryan Cristante’s header and Vina’s follow-up, which hit Gianluca Mancini almost on the line.

Roma thought they had scored on the second attempt in 28 minutes, only for the goal to be ruled out after a VAR check.

Crisante managed to nod into the net, but it was disallowed as Cristian Volpato was offside and interfering with play, practically in the arms of the goalkeeper.

Roma eventually went ahead from a Pellegrini free kick that was floated into the box for the Abraham header into the far bottom corner.

After Abraham missed the opportunity to get a brace when his sudden curler went wide of the far top corner,  HJK equalised. Former Chievo midfielder Perparim Hetemaj benefitted from a Gianluca Mancini slip to turn in from a Lindman through ball that only bounced off Abubakari.

Hoskonen made a crucial sliding tackle that stopped Abraham, who was going clear on goal, from scoring. 

Roma later doubled their lead when the goalie tried to anticipate Abraham but accidentally deflected a Stephan El Shaarawy angled drive into his net from six yards.

VAR also disallowed Browne’s stunner as a corner was cleared, and he thumped a rocket from 25 meters into the top corner. However, after a VAR review, Abubakari’s arm was in the face of Cristante during the build-up.

Written by Oladipupo Mojeed