Photo Romanews.eu
The poker of Roma access to the quarterfinals of the Italian Cup is worth it. The Giallorossi send Sampdoria home with a 4-1 and will face Milan in the next round. Artem Dovbyk scored twice in just a few minutes after kick-off. The chain continues with a nice goal from distance by Tommaso Baldanzi, the final epilogue is written by the substitute Eldor and in the middle we also put Soulé’s crossbar and the hat-trick devoured by the Ukrainian. A Roma that doesn’t make a mistake in its attitude, the real unknown of the evening, and roars after a few minutes. Let it be, again, a beginning. It’s true, it would be yet another of a troubled mid-season, but we hope it will be the decisive one. It’s almost Christmas, we want to believe in good intentions.
The votes for the Giallorossi
Ryan 6: His debut with Roma came on a cold December evening. The result in the first half hour warms him up quickly, his first intervention saves a corner, but he risks doing worse by giving the ball to his opponent. In the end he had to surrender to the hole in his defense which ‘ruined’ his debut with a clean sheet.
Literacy 6: It goes without saying that he didn’t have his most memorable races in the rearguard. He maintains his rhythm in the first half where there isn’t much for him to do, but he finds a way to take a risk with an arm that is too wide which Dionisi lets go because the touch was close. When moving forward, the turns of the compass always need to be adjusted, but it does not create disorder.
N’Dicka 6.5: Fortunately, in his area it was calm in the first half. Borini, yet another ex on duty, doesn’t cause him too many worries, Evan then looks over from the other side to peek at what his teammates are doing and to keep the team up. If he sees something he doesn’t like, he takes immediate action.
Beautiful 6: At times it still seems shrouded in the fog of the lake. From a free kick he is always watched by the opposing defence, but when he knocks from a corner the ball comes down too slowly. The match flows as calmly as a comedy, with few laughs however when the first real incursion of the opponent misses the ball and leaves the corridor to Yepes. He tries to make amends again on a corner, but still shoots very high. However, he improves in the final and gets a pass.
Saelemaekers 7.5: He immediately shows up in Vismara with an assist for Artem who is as sweet as a Christmas nougat. He was enticed by a poor clearance from the Ligurians and immediately went to shoot without looking around. But he is forgiven, because Alexis also propitiates the encore with a cross so poisonous that it sends Meulensteen into a tailspin. (Dal 61′ Soulé 6.5: The first ball he touches could be a beautiful goal, if his curling shot didn’t hit the crossbar. The second is a chocolate for Dovbyk, who fires a nice vertical pass onto the goalkeeper)
Pisilli 6,5: He places his tents in the opponent’s frontline to steal every ball that comes his way. Sometimes he raises his voice too much, it’s no coincidence that he gets yellow. He spends the entire tank as usual (Dal 61′ The Fairy 5.5: Elegant in his turn of the ball, however he finds himself exaggerating and giving away a few too many balls)
Paredes 6: Tonight he’s wearing the armband. He sorts balloons left and right as if he were a courier during the holiday season. When the result allows it, he takes on a more staid rhythm and starts directing. However, he falls asleep and misses the save on Yepes’ goal, due to the fault of Hermoso. (From 69′ Pellegrini 6: He effectively covers a potential counterattack, but after the step back in Como, smoke signals are needed again. He works less decisively than two matches ago. He wants to get on the scoreboard too but his right-footed shot from distance is too predictable.).
Angeliño 6.5: Leaves a trail of energy visible from satellite, sometimes forces the play too much. Until he finds the right one, and writes Eldor’s name on the ball. Great cross for the Uzbek. In the coverage phase he could perhaps do more on the Blucerchiati club’s goal.
Baldanzi 7.5: He immediately lights up the Olimpico by sending a Sampdoria defender in his area to the bar, but the conclusion is too central. He takes a moment to think and the second time the calculations are correct, great progression and left-footed from the edge of the area straight to the corner.
Zalewski 6: In an attack that today shows off its creative streak shortly after, Nicola doesn’t deliver the task. He tries, mind you, but his long range aim needs to be adjusted and he isn’t at the center of the game like his teammate. (Dal 69 Dahl 6: He takes up the thread left on the band and puts minutes in the legs).
Dovbyk 7: He needs that type of adrenaline that only a goal can give to an attacker, that feeling that he hasn’t felt for a while. All it takes is the right ball and the killer instinct lights up like Times Square in December and a goal arrives from a pure number 9. He exults in anger. The brace also arrives, and here comes a smile, even if the goal comes from a mix-up by the opposing defence, Artem can accompany it in his slippers. He could also score the hat trick, he gets excited in front of the goal when the public was already about to jump. (Dal 77′ Shomurodov 6.5: There is glory for him too, perfect in the header Eldor drops the poker. Many thanks to Angeliño and then he goes straight to hug Dybala. Who knows, maybe Paulo had foreseen it.
Ranieri 7: A bit of turnover and a few forced choices, it’s a Roma almost Como-sized on paper, but not on the pitch. The Giallorossi attacked the match straight away and took the lead after a few minutes. Not even half an hour and the lead becomes three points. The opponent’s goal arrives, punctually, but this time it doesn’t shake the foundations. However, Ranieri made a few more changes to provide some freshness and Shomurodov repaid him with a goal.
