AS Roma defeated FC Porto 2-1 in the first leg of the Champions League last 16 at the Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday (12/2) local time.
AS Roma won thanks to a goal of 19-year-old youngster Nicolo Zaniolo. He only lost to Mario Balotelli (18 years) for the affairs of the youngest Italian player to score in the Champions League. Nicolo Zaniolo bought up two goals in the match. Nevertheless, Zaniolo made his own record through his second goal. He is listed as the youngest Italian player to score two goals in a Champions League match.
The early minutes of the match Roma vs Porto went slowly. Both teams tried to feel the strength of each opponent.
Stephan El Shaarawy made a good breakthrough in the fifth minute after utilizing Felipe’s blunder. But Shaarawy’s intended colleague could not use the ball he gave.
Aggressive game tried to display by both teams when the game entered the 10th minute. However, the Roma and Porto back lines appear disciplined by being able to do intercepts well.
In the 19th minute Nicolo Zaniolo tried to give Roma the edge. It’s just that Zaniolo’s free kick hasn’t led to Porto’s goal.
Roma defender Federico Fazio made a fatal blunder in the 30th minute. Otavio took advantage of that mistake by seizing the ball and giving it to Fernando Santos. But Santos’s shot could still be caught by goalkeeper Antonio Mirante.
Edin Dzeko tried to counter the Porto attack. In the 37th minute the former Manchester City striker fired a shot straight at Porto which unfortunately still hit the post.
Roma finally could steal the advantage first in the 70th minute thanks to Dzeko bait. Nicolo Zaniolo’s right-footed shot which went through the sidelines of the Porto defender’s feet successfully broke Iker Casillas’s goal.
Edin Dzeko again became the actor who created Roma’s second goal in the 76th minute. Dzeko kick that hit the right post of Porto’s goal to make the ball rolling wildly in front of the opponent’s goal. Zaniolo who ran from behind freely cheated the ball into the goal utilizing the rebound.
It did not take long for Porto to reduce the position. Two minutes after Roma’s second goal, Porto immediately responded by Adrian Lopez utilizing Tiquinho’s assist in the 79th minute.
Without any additional goals in the rest of the game, Roma won 2-0 over Porto. These results provide benefits for Rome in the second leg which will be held on March 6.
