Roma 4-0 Brighton (Dybala 13′, Lukaku 43′, Mancini 64′, Cristante 68′)
Brighton had to get travel sick eventually. Five months into their maiden continental campaign, Roberto De Zerbi’s side finally succumbed to their first European away defeat.
And how. On one of the biggest nights in Albion’s history, their first knockout game in European competition ended in a 4-0 drubbing that leaves them requiring a second-leg miracle to progress.
Taking on a Roma side brimming with confidence under the leadership of recently installed club legend Daniele De Rossi, at what has become one of Europe’s most atmospheric and hostile venues in recent seasons, was always going to be a daunting task.
Although Brighton will leave the Eternal City with some regrets, not least their inability to convert their chances and how often their high line was exposed, there can be few complaints about a thumping result that may well have already ended this continent-hopping journey.
It has been an incredible run for Seagulls supporters who might still be pinching themselves about plundering two wins and a draw from trips to Marseille, Ajax and AEK Athens in the so-called “group of death”.
But De Rossi, who labelled his friend and counterpart De Zerbi a “genius” before the game, masterminded a thrashing that has all-but ended the tie before the second leg reaches the Amex Stadium, and leaves the Albion boss scratching his head as he searches for a way to end a slump of one win in six games.
Fast starts have been something of a trait for Roma under De Rossi and they were quick to put their inexperienced visitors under pressure from the first whistle, roared on by a thunderous Olimpico crowd.
Before 15 minutes had passed, Romelu Lukaku had spurned two good chances and Paulo Dybala had fired the hosts in front after racing onto a through ball that required 20-20 vision from Leandro Paredes inside his own half.
De Zerbi’s side saw their greatest hope come from the left wing, where Simon Adingra saw a deflected shot cannon back off the post before he twice set up Danny Welbeck for headers that required sharp Mile Svilar saves.
But the momentum was largely with the home side, who needed no invitation to knock balls in behind Brighton’s high line – a tactic that ultimately led to their second goal too, when Lewis Dunk’s clumsy touch from a long pass fell invitingly into Lukaku’s path for a clinical run and finish.
A third goal felt likely as an open game went on, but it was unclear which way it would fall as both sides searched for openings, Svilar denying Welbeck and Steele saving from Lukaku either side of the half-time whistle.
The knockout blow arrived in a brutal five-minute period, Gianluca Mancini prodding home on the stretch before Bryan Cristante headed in to finish off a quick Roma attack as the Albion defence disintegrated.
To their credit, De Zerbi’s men never dropped their heads and constantly sought to find a way back into the game, with Facundo Buonanotte, Tariq Lamptey and Dunk all threatening.
But as the minutes ticked on, it felt more and more inevitable that the red-shirted backline would not be breached, and the full-time whistle was met with a celebration fitting of a crowd that felt the tie had already been settled in 90 minutes.
Attention will now turn to the task of getting Brighton back into Europe next season, with Sunday’s visit of Nottingham Forest looking like a crucial chance to pick up points ahead of a tough double-header against Roma and Liverpool.
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/TbQhHxF
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