Wijnaldum sends signal to Feyenoord with Roma: goal and decorated penalty

Georginio Wijnaldum claimed a starring role at AS Roma in the league match won at home against Sampdoria (3-0). The Oranje international scored the first goal and avoided a penalty, which resulted in the second goal.

While Wijnaldum played the entire match, Roma’s other Dutchman, Rick Karsdorp, was not in the squad due to a nose injury.

Former PSV player Sam Lammers filled in for Sampdoria half an hour before time. Defender Bram Nuytinck was suspended.

Thanks to the victory, Roma, who will be Feyenoord’s opponents in the quarter-finals of the Europa League in a week and a half from now, climb to fourth place. José Mourinho’s team can already be passed in the rankings tonight, as current number five AC Milan will play against frontrunners Napoli.

For Sampdoria, relegation seems inevitable. The difference with the “safe” spot seventeen is ten points.

More than ten minutes after halftime, Wijnaldum broke the spell. He headed in from a Nemanja Matic cross. Moments before, Sampdoria defender Jeison Murillo had received a red card.

Against ten men, Roma managed to score once more in the 88th minute. Wijnaldum was floored by Federico Ravaglia and the referee awarded a penalty and it was scored by Paulo Dybala. In injury time, Stephan El Shaarawy fired in the third Roman goal.