Against 10 Players Braga, AS Roma Carve A 2-0 Victory

Borja Mayoral (Photo: Antara)

JaAKARTA - AS Roma won 2-0 when they visited the headquarters of Portuguese club Braga in the first leg of the Europa League last 32 at Estadio Municipal de Braga, Lisbon, Friday morning WIB.

The Giallorossi opened the scoring with an Edin Dzeko's goal just into the fifth minute, before substitute Borja Mayoral grabbed Roma's second in the 86th minute.

Inizia ora la ripresa. FORZA RAGAZZI! 🙌 # BragaRoma 0-1 #UEL pic.twitter.com/boffUDChnO

- AS Roma (@OfficialASRoma) February 18, 2021

Launched Antara, a two-goal advantage will be a very good asset for Roma ahead of the second leg which will be played on Thursday, February 25.

Roma started very well at Braga. Leonardo Spinazzola runs down the left to catch Amadou Diawara's pass and sends the ball for Dzeko to convert it into a goal.

But moments later Roma center back Bryan Cristante picked up an injury and had to be pulled off the pitch. He was replaced by Bruno Peres.

Jordan Veretout failed to send Henrikh Mkhitaryan a mature pass, while a few moments later Dzeko was unable to complete the Armenian's assist.

Mkhitaryan fired a straight shot at the opposing defender after Dzeko and Veretout worked well together. Pedro broke into the host's goal with an assist from Dzeko, but the goal was not passed due to offside.

🙌 @Mayoral_Borja 🙌 # BragaRoma #UEL pic.twitter.com/RaKkOcb0on

- AS Roma (@OfficialASRoma) February 18, 2021

Braga then had to play with ten players, after Ricardo Esgaio received a second yellow card in the 54th minute.

Roma's goal was not passed again, this time because Mkhitaryan was caught offside while chasing a Veretout pass.

Roma finally doubled their lead as the match was over. Substitute Mayoral completed a neat teamwork, initiated by Mkhitaryan and Veretout.

Triplice Fischio! L'andata la vinciamo 2-0 with a goal at @EdDzeko e @Mayoral_Borja! 💪DAJE ROME! 💛❤️ # BragaRoma 🐺 #UEL pic.twitter.com/PujpDrtzpI

- AS Roma (@OfficialASRoma) February 18, 2021

The composition of players:

SC Braga (4-3-3): Matheus, Ricardo Esgaio, Vitor Tormena, Raul, Nuno Sequeira, Al Musrati, Fransergio (Andre Horta 69 '), Nicolas Gaitan (Ze Carlos 57'), Ricardo Horta (Lucas Piazon 62 ' ), Andraz Sporar (Abel Ruiz 62 '), Wenderson Galeno (Cristian Borja 69')

AS Roma (3-4-2-1): Pau Lopez, Gianluca Mancini, Bryan Cristante (Bruno Peres 7 '), Roger Ibanez (Gonzalo Villar 53'), Leonardo Spinazzola, Amadou Diawara, Jordan Veretout, Rick Karsdorp, Pedro Rodriguez (Stephan El Shaarawy 71 '), Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Edin Dzeko (Borja Mayoral 70')