Soulé along with Pellegrini on target as AS Roma overpower Rangers
Roma displayed impressive effectiveness in the way the Italian side dealt with this journey to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. The team from Italy’s capital did, however, meet favourable opposition when putting their Europa League bid on the right path. Observers noted a obvious gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers side that has now lost a club record seven European games in a row.
To their credit, the home side at least fought hard during a second half when capitulation felt the more likely option. Yet, the match was decided as a competition by then. The Scottish club remain anchored at the foot of the Europa League, which should constitute an embarrassment to a club of this standing. Roma have eyes once more on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment here was in not producing a result appropriately depicting men against boys.
Amazingly, this marked only Roma’s second-ever continental encounter with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in the early 60s. The previous one, against Dundee United 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the corruption of a match official. Back then, teams from Scotland could compete with the top sides in the continent. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a level that will soon have major ramifications.
The new manager’s key attribute up to now as the fanbase are see it is that he is not Russell Martin. Martin’s ghastly tenure as the manager lasted 123 days in the early part of the campaign. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a tiny sample size. The technical areas witnessed a generation game; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his opposite number the Roma manager is 67.
Another element was much more noticeable as the teams lined up. The home team’s obvious lack of height against the Italians looked worrying. This point was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante easily redirected a corner at the near post. At the back, the Argentine winger burst forward to knock his team ahead. A Roma team without the unavailable their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for bluntness even with decent performances in the tournament, were delighted with their quick lead.
The Ibrox side could have levelled matters immediately. Instead, the forward screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound signing from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an productive striker but appears reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.
Roma dominated opening period the ball thereafter. They doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will bemoan the fact the midfielder stood in blissful isolation but it was a superb finish. The stadium, typically a raucous venue on continental evenings, had been quietened nine minutes before the break. The discontent which met the interval were timid; the home team were clearly in the process of being outclassed.
The second period began against a unusual atmosphere. Supporters directed their focus once again towards the top executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, the director. Two banners, clearly sinister in tone, depicted the duo with bullseyes on their faces. One wonders what the Rangers chairman makes of all this. After all, the chairman had an anonymous career as a successful businessman in the United States before fronting a takeover of Rangers. Paying punters have not targeted the owner so far but there is a mutinous mood in the air. It is one which is easy to understand; The team’s management is completely unimpressive.
Right on cue, the striker was sent through on goal on the 60-minute mark and hit the outside of the goal. That moment sparked the home side’s best period of the game, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. Yet, however, difficult to determine Roma’s continued attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was given a chance from close range which he inexplicably hit up and on to the underside of the bar.
That was it as far as meaningful chances were concerned. The raft of changes from both teams meant this fixture closed more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than serious contest. That scenario benefited the Italians fine. There was cause to ponder how on earth Rangers, runners-up in this competition in recently and worthy of the last eight a season ago, reached the point of just participating.