Roma Win 2-1 Over Verona In Coach De Rossi's Debut Match

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JAKARTA - AS Roma won 2-1 over Verona, on Daniele De Rossi's debut match as the capital club coach, at Stadio Olimpico Roma, local Saturday or Sunday morning WIB.

The victory boosted Roma to eighth in the Italian League standings with 32 points, while Verona remained slumped in 18th place with 17 points, according to the official Italian League website.

A dramatic atmosphere surrounding Roma in recent days, when coach Jose Mourinho was sacked after they were eliminated from the Italian Cup and have only collected one point from three Italian League games. De Rossi, who is an icon of Rome, was then appointed to fill the hot seat. Roma took the initiative to attack first when Edoardo Bove sent a through ball to Rick Karsdorp which was forwarded to Romelu Lukaku, but the Belgian player's shot was arrested.

Stephan El Shaarawy escaped an offside trap to work with Lorenzo Pellegrini. He then outwitted three Verona defenders before sending Lukaku a pass, to be converted into a goal in the 19th minute. It was Roma's first goal in the coaching era of De Rossi.

Roma doubled their lead in the 25th minute. El Shaarawy's Lukaku cross to Lorenzo Pellegrini, who controlled it with his back against the goal, and volleyed half a left-footed volley to tear the visitors' goal.

Verona's efforts to reduce the gap only got results in the 56th minute thanks to Michael Folorunsho's header. However, the referee did not pass the goal, which assessed that there had been a boost to Rick Karsdorp during the goal process.

They were then awarded a penalty when Milan Djuric's header hit Diego Llorente's arm in the 66th minute. Djuric himself took the penalty, and his shot bounced over Roma's goal.

Verona's new coverage goal came in the 76th minute. Folorunsho snatched the ball from Bove in midfield and fired a long-range shot with his right foot, which surprised goalkeeper Rui Patricio and moved into the Roma goal.

In the final phase of the match, Verona increased its aggressiveness and had good chances through Juan Manuel Cruz and Folorunsho, but Roma's 2-1 advantage lasted until the long whistle sounded.