Zaniolo Shines as Roma beat Porto 2-1 in UCL Clash

By Daily Sports on February 13, 2019

Teenage sensation Nicolo Zaniolo hit a brace as Roma beat Porto 2-1 in their Champions League last 16, first leg clash at the Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday.

The 19-year-old got his first Champions League goal after 70 minutes in Rome, adding a second six minutes later to inflict a first defeat on Porto in this year’s top-tier European competition.

Adrian Lopez pulled a vital goal back for the Portuguese club after 79 minutes.

Eusebio Di Francesco’s Roma now carry the momentum into the second leg in Porto on March 6 as they target a quarterfinal berth for the second consecutive year.

Roma, last year’s semifinalists, had fallen to the Portuguese in both previous meetings, most recently the 2016 play-off round in qualifying.

The hosts had the best of the first half with veteran Porto goalkeeper Iker Casillas denying Aleksandar Kolarov and Lorenzo Pellegrini off the rebound.

Edin Dzeko looked destined to break the deadlock on 38 minutes when he beat the Porto defence only for the ball to blast off the post.

Roma stepped up the pressure after the break with Zaniolo setting up Bryan Cristante who wove his way through again forcing a Casillas save.

A Danilo Pereira header flew wide, with Casillas on hand to parry a low Pellegrini effort.

Roma's pressing finally paid off when Stephan El Shaarawy crossed for Zaniolo to finish off with precision after 70 minutes.

He soon had his second goal when Dzeko went on the counter-attack, his shot bouncing off the post with Zaniolo on hand to finish off the rebound for the youngster's fifth goal since moving from Inter Milan last summer.

Lopez pulled a goal back for Porto three minutes later with Hector Herrera missing a chance for the equaliser.

Roma held on for their first success over Porto, who have won the competition twice, most recently in 2004 under Jose Mourinho. (SuperSport)

•Photo shows Nicolo Zaniolo 

Source Daily Sports

Posted February 13, 2019


 

You may also like...
GOtv Boxing NextGen Search 4 produces 20 boxers...

Shock and grief as Bendel Insurance Media Officer...

Solskjaer Doesn’t Rule Out Move For Haaland

Eguavoen Hands Dennis, Nwakali Eagles Return

Nigeria Women Football League Loses Board Member

Ronaldo named in Portugal squad for Euro 2024...

 

Latest News CHAN Eagles Gear up For Ghana Clash Onitsha Country Club Plans Tennis Academy With Facility New Facelift Nigeria beat Cameroon to reach IHF final 27 schools for Doregos Basketball Championship Super Falcons to play France’s Les Bleues in friendly SWAN suspends ban on coverage of Anambra FA activities Joshua among boxing’s top three earners in 2024 Oshoala makes history with Bay FC Nnamani hails team over IHF bright start Flamingos lift U-17 W’Cup Fair Play Trophy Rangers Intl, SWAN partner on sports collaboration in SE LAGOS SWAN CELEBRATES AIG ZONE 2 ON HIS BIRTHDAY AND 30 DAYS IN OFFICE

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (55,142 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,269 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,351 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (43,992 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (43,932 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (43,879 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (43,718 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,289 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,333 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,036 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,490 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (38,917 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media