The most integral (actually the best) football of the strongest European Championship (that is, English) has settled in Manchester (and City has nothing to do with it). In the Eternal City of Rome, the seemingly eternal crisis of both metropolitan teams was completed - by careful and prudent management (gestione - in Italian).
In Roma, Luciano Spalletti made a drawing and explained to the players what he wanted. Probably the listeners were capable. Or Spalletti himself is a genius, which is not excluded. The Romans cannot yet push off the Inter road - human forces are not unlimited. It is all the easier to play in the Champions League: no one demands anything from the Italian club, leaving the group is already a good result, but the game is working out.
And now the leader of the Premier League arrives in Rome, having lost half of the defenders for various reasons. It all adds up. It is multiplied by a home stadium and utmost accuracy. Great first half. None of the common phalanx fell out, zealous Wilhelmsson no worse than Totti the Brilliant. “Roma” didn’t crush the opponent into pieces, but didn’t let them go to their gates. The owners gave in a lot, quickly and accurately. A goal moment created one.
Leaving Sulscher against Mansini was reckless, and Taddei received a pass 11 meters from the gate. Then there was a successful rebound. There was no one to cover the scorer, since the “Manchester” by that time was left without one of the central midfielders.
With the removal of Scholes, the German referee Fandel probably got excited. The first yellow card is for the cause. The second Englishman earned on Totti, who, of course, imitated a little. Scholes himself is good - do not leave the field in the first half, probably would have left in the second. Firm charge hit over the edge - the 18th issue of Manchester United before the game was fed from the wrong outlet. (“Kaput,” said the unforgettable Savva Ignatievich from Pokrovsky Gates. “I forgot to switch the voltage.”)
It’s easier to talk about the British than about their opponent. “Roma” is all positive from itself, and “MJ” are above class. Cristiano Ronaldo, off the game in the first 45 minutes, showed up after the break. He took the ball in the center. Beat the three. Found Sulscher. He figured Rooney in someone else's penalty area. England striker threw the ball by the chest past the opponent (for some reason, De Rossi, not Mexes or Kivu) and scored his first goal in the Champions League after September 2004.
Spalletti reacted instantly by releasing Vucinic in the field. Totti moved to the center line. Roma, having long mastered the scheme without any clean forwards, began to confidently play for the Balkan. He hit the target on his second attempt, taking advantage of Mansini's powerful distant volley and van der Sarah's trembling arms.
In 90 minutes, the rivals delivered three and a half dozen hits (for the most part distant). And the percentage of accurate transmissions was high, and decent speeds. And really dangerous episodes - five from strength along with goals. Serious level. Just for the Old Trafford.
Vladimir STOGNIENKO
R OMA Italy - MANCHESTER UNITED England - 2: 1 (1: 0)
Goals: 1: 0 - Taddei (43), 1: 1 - Rooney (60), 2: 1 - Vucinic (66).
ROMA: Doni, Panucci, Wilhelmsson (Vucinic, 62), Mexes, Totti, Taddei (Rosie, 82), Kivu, De Rossi, Perrotta, Mansini, Cassetti.
MJ: van der Sar, Heinze, Ferdinand, Brown, Cristiano Ronaldo, Rooney, Giggs (Saa, 77), Carrick, Scholes, Sulscher (Fletcher, 72), O'Shea.
Warnings: Scholes (26), Perrotta (42), Sulscher (69), Heinze (86).
Removal: Scholes (34, second warning).
April, 4. Rome. "Stadio Olimpico".
Judge: H. Fandel (Germany).