Feyenoord tease Roma also reaches Europa League final
NOS Soccer––Customized
AS Roma and Sevilla FC have reached the final of the Europa League. Roma, the team of José Mourinho, who eliminated Feyenoord in the quarter-finals and also thwarted the Rotterdammers in the Conference League final last year, did so at the expense of Bayer Leverkusen.
The Italians, who won the first game 1-0 against Leverkusen, successfully aimed for a draw in the return game in Germany. It ended up 0-0.
At the German sub-topper, Jeremie Frimpong and Mitchel Bakker started; at the Italian club, Georginio Wijnaldum and Rick Karsdorp started on the bench.
Defense as steel concrete
AS Roma – obviously – was not going to give up the lead, but neither was it going to extend it. No exciting attacks, a defense like steel concrete. Where Mourinho’s team could draw time, it did. It provided little viewing pleasure.
Leverkusen was mainly on the Italians’ half. Almost the Germans were ahead early in the match. After a brilliant pass in free space, Moussa Diaby took the ball in a quick sprint. His shot from the edge of the sixteen-meter area hit the crossbar.
In fact, every Leverkusen shot had to come from outside the sixteen and then there was Roma goalkeeper Rui Patrício to the rescue. After halftime, almost the entire Italian team retreated into their own sixteen, there was no way through for Leverkusen.
No matter how hard Xabi Alonso’s team fought, goals did not result. After ninety minutes, the home club had scored twenty goal attempts, the Italians just one.
