Roma earn first Europa League victory

AS Roma have eventually secured their first home victory in this season’s Europa League after recording a 2-1 victory over Danish visitors Midtjylland.

Neil El Aynaoui and Stephan El Shaarawy handed the capital club the needed win. It would have been a perfect night with the hosts initially two goals up before the visitors pulled a goal back at the Stadio Olimpico on Thursday night.

The Giallorossi, who currently top the Serie A table, have failed to replicate their domestic form in Europe. They came into the game on the back of back-to-back defeats in their fixtures in the competition.

This is a good result for Gian Piero Gasperini’s men; on the other hand, against the Danes, who were on top of the Europa League table after four wins.

The Gialorossi made a perfect start as Zeki Celik floated in a cross from the right for Neil El Aynaoui to sweep in the volley from 12 yards, guiding it into the far corner with the right boot for his first goal for the club.

Manu Koné had to be substituted after spraining his right ankle during an early tackle from Ousmane Diao. The Frenchman had tried to stay on, but eventually limped off to make way for Bryan Cristante.

Kevin Mbabu stopped Roma from adding the second when he twice sprinted back for well-timed challenges to stop Wesley and Lorenzo Pellegrini going clear. 

The captain’s strike was again deflected just wide after a Dybala back-heel flick.

Roma continued the search for the second goal in the second, but Mile Svilar was called to action when he smothered an Osorio attempt while Matias Soulé’s left-foot curler skimmed the far post.

The visitors’ goalie also got down to fingertip a low Dybala finish out of the far bottom corner.

Junior Brumado’s header in the 67th minute, which hit the crossbar after a corner, wouldn’t have counted had it gone as he was in an offside position. 

Although Roma were looking tired at the latter stage of the game, Stephan El Shaarawy forced a tough save at the near post, and Martin Erlic’s ferocious strike got charged down.

Bech Sorensen took a huge risk, which could have resulted in an own, making an odd interception of a Kostas Tsimikas low cross, which he flicked onto Bailey’s shin to ricochet wide from close range.

Roma finally doubled their lead when El Aynaoui won back the ball in midfield and sent Bailey down the right. The Jamaican then rolled it across for El Shaarawy to sweep home relatively undisturbed from 12 yards.

Despite being two goals down, Midtjylland kept the hosts on their toes to the bitter end. They were rewarded as Aral Simsir got away from the disappointing Wesley and pulled back from the by-line for Paulinho’s angled drive.

El Shaarawy had a chance to restore the two-goal cushion moments later, but his strike from the edge of the area was stopped by the crossbar from going in after a give-and-go with Bailey.