Soulé along with Pellegrini find the net as AS Roma outclass Rangers
Roma displayed impressive effectiveness about the way the Italian side dealt with this trip to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. The team from Rome did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when placing their Europa League bid on the right path. There was a glaring difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers side that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven continental matches in a row.
Positively, Rangers at least fought hard during a second half when surrender felt the probable outcome. Yet, the match was settled as a contest by then. The Scottish club remain rooted to the foot of the tournament, which should constitute an embarrassment to a club of such stature. The Giallorossi have eyes once more on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment in this match was in not producing a scoreline that truly reflected men against boys.
Surprisingly, this represented only Roma’s second-ever European joust with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in 1961. Their last such match, against the Terrors 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a match official. In those days, Scottish clubs could compete with the top sides in the continent. This season has seen the co-efficient drop to a level that will shortly have major consequences.
Danny Röhl’s main quality so far as the fanbase are concerned is that he is not his predecessor. Martin’s ghastly tenure as the manager lasted just over four months in the initial phase of the campaign. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a limited timeframe. The dugouts witnessed a clash of generations; Röhl is thirty-six, his counterpart the Roma manager is sixty-seven.
Another element was far more striking as the sides lined up. The home team’s glaring lack of height against the Italians looked ominous. That concern was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante comfortably redirected a corner at the front post. At the back, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to knock Roma in front. The visitors without the unavailable their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge even with decent results in the tournament, were delighted with their quick lead.
Rangers should have equalised immediately. Rather, the forward sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s £8m signing from Everton has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an effective striker but seems unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.
Roma controlled first-half the ball thereafter. Roma doubled their lead through their captain, whose curling shot into the far post of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will bemoan the fact the midfielder was left in blissful isolation but it was a superb finish. Ibrox, typically a raucous place on continental evenings, had been quietened with time still remaining before the break. Even the boos which met the interval were subdued; the home team were simply in the process of being overwhelmed.
The second period began against a unusual atmosphere. Supporters turned their attentions for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, the director. Two banners, obviously sinister in message, depicted the duo with targets on their faces. One wonders what the Rangers chairman makes of the situation. After all, the chairman had an low-profile life as a successful businessman in the United States before leading a acquisition of Rangers. Fans have not turned on Cavenagh yet but there is a mutinous feeling in the air. This is unsurprising; Rangers’ leadership is completely unconvincing.
As if scripted, Chermiti was played in on goal on the hour mark and hit the outside of the goal. That moment sparked the home side’s finest spell of the match, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. Yet, nonetheless, difficult to determine Roma’s remaining offensive intent until the full-back was given a opportunity from close range which he inexplicably lifted and onto the bottom of the crossbar.
That opportunity as far as meaningful chances were concerned. The series of changes from both teams meant this fixture ended more in the style of a summer exhibition than serious contest. This of course suited the Italians fine. There was cause to ponder how exactly Rangers, finalists in this tournament in 2022 and worthy of the last eight a season ago, arrived at the stage of just participating.