Roma resist Feyenoord Mourinho’s tears for the cup

The Giallorossi are the first to win the minor of tournaments with a sacrifice match Zaniolo’s decisive goal, then Portuguese goalkeeper Rui Patricio takes the chair

With a big-hearted test, supported by the ability to suffer in the many difficult moments of the match, Roma put Zaniolo’s goal to good use in the first half and won the first edition of the newly formed Conference League.

For the Giallorossi of Mourinho (fifth continental final won out of five attempts for the Portuguese coach) this is the first European success in their history after the missed opportunities in 1984 and 1991. A painful match from the beginning, Feyenoord appears more aggressive at the start and tries to put pressure on the setters of the Giallorossi midfielder Mkhitaryan and Pellegrini. It is above all on the left wing of the attack, where the rapid Sinisterra acts, that the Dutch try to sting Rome. At 16 ‘trouble for the Giallorossi: Mkhitarian, bruised on the eve, must raise the white flag and is replaced by Oliveira. Roma contracted, Feyenoord plays more with Aursnes and Kocku in midfield. Abraham’s flash in the 25th minute: a tear on the counterattack forces the central Trauner to a yellow card.

Match more balanced at half an hour, but Roma seem more alive. Pellegrini and Zalewski grow and at 31 ‘, at the first opportunity, the Giallorossi pass: a throw surprises the uncertain Trauner and Zaniolo fishing in the area who is very good at stopping from the chest and electrocuting Bijlow with a soft touch. The match heats up: at 37 ‘Pellegrini collects a naive yellow card. The advantage dissolved Roma: the team dribbled better and found Abraham with continuity.

Feyenoord’s reaction is mild: Kocku tries with a right from outside in the 40th minute, then in the 46th minute Rui Patricio foils a cross from Malacia with a good exit. It starts again and Roma immediately risks big: in the 46th minute, on the developments of a corner, Mancini hits the post of his goal and then Rui Patricio foils a close shot from Til. Tremendous moment for Roma: in the 50th minute Rui Patricio is miraculous on Malacia by deflecting a violent left on the post. Romanist protest a few moments later: Senesi pulls Abraham into the net, but the referee does not intervene. Feyenoord under pressure and the Giallorossi too low but kept up by an excellent Smalling, who in the 60 ‘avoids trouble on a foray by Dessers. Mourinho understands that it is time to insert fresh forces: in the 66th minute in Spinazzola and Veretout for Zalewski and the exhausted Zaniolo. The move seems to work: Spinazzola begins to give breath to the maneuver and in the 72nd minute Veretout calls Bijlow to a difficult deviation in the scrum. Feyenoord boarding with Malacia and Sinisterra among the most insidious: melees follow one another but Ibanez and Smalling are very careful and make a wall. At 85 ‘Roma eases the pressure and Pellegrini commits Bijlow. Chills in the 91st minute: Linssen, favored by a smooth shot from Spinazzola, did not find the winning deviation a stone’s throw from the goalkeeper. It is the last risk, the Romanist party can finally begin. –