The Romans defeated Feyenoord Rotterdam 1-0 (1-0) in the final of the first Conference League on Wednesday evening. Nicolo Zaniolo scored the decisive goal in Tirana in the 32nd minute. The Austrian international Gernot Trauner and the Dutch missed their fourth trophy in the European Cup.
Roma’s star coach Jose Mourinho was the first coach to win four different European Cup competitions. The Portuguese had already won the Champions League (2004/Porto, 2010/Inter Milan), the UEFA Cup (2003/Porto) and the Europa League (2017/Manchester United). From an Italian perspective, the “Giallorossi” ended a European dry spell in club football in Albania. Inter had last triumphed in the Champions League twelve years ago – under Mourinho.
The prelude to the game in the National Arena, which opened at the end of 2019, was an unpleasant one. There was talk of 100,000 supporters of the two clubs, some of whom rioted among themselves and with the police on Wednesday night and on the day of the game itself. A law enforcement officer sustained injuries from a knife attack. At least 60 people were arrested and 80 Roma fans were sent back to their homeland by ferry.
An intensive comparison was announced on the field. As expected, Trauner appeared in Feyenoord’s starting eleven for the “big highlight” of his career, behind the Upper Austrian the Dutch team goalkeeper Justin Bijlow was in goal for the first time since March. The ten-time goal scorer Cyriel Dessers should strike in front. The favored Romans relied on the recently injured Henrich Mchitarjan in midfield, on the offensive Mourinho relied on the Englishman Tammy Abraham (9 goals) and the Italian internationals Lorenzo Pellegrini and Zaniolo.
The first few minutes were characterized by mutual scanning. Neither the third in the honor division nor the sixth in Serie A wanted to be lured out. Ball relays and combinations were scarce. The game was over for Mchitarjan after a quarter of an hour, the Armenian had to leave the field again. Trauner was under pressure from the 25th minute after knocking Abraham off his feet and seeing a yellow card. The first half hour ended without a single shot on goal. Roma then advanced from their first chance.
A wide cross from defender Gianluca Mancini sailed over the head of the awkwardly positioned Trauner to Zaniolo, who finished elegantly. It was the fifth goal in the Conference League for the 22-year-old, who has been plagued by serious injuries in his career. Feyenoord was now forced to act. Except for a powerful shot by Orkun Kökçü in the middle of the goal (41st), the Rotterdam team remained harmless despite their efforts before the change.
The start of the second 45 minutes made up for a lot. After a Feyenoord corner, Trauner was right in the middle, Mancini deflected the ball to his own post. Roma keeper Rui Patricio parried the margin brilliantly. Three minutes later, the former Portuguese European champion flew again. Tyrell Malacia fired, Patricio deflected the shot to the cross corner (50th). On the Roma side, the agile Abraham complained about an offense by opponent Marcos Senesi, who pulled him back slightly as the last man. However, the VAR used in the final did not intervene.
Roma now faltered, the defense around former Manchester United pro Chris Smalling threw themselves into every shot by the Dutchman. Mourinho took Zaniolo off the field and brought more security in midfield. Feyenoord’s coach Arne Slot also switched, and Trauner had to leave the field fifteen minutes before the end. Time was running out for the Dutch, and Dessers and Co. tried in vain against the massive Roman defense in the five-minute stoppage time.
Source: Nachrichten
