Roma edge Leicester as Feyenoord hold Marseile to set up final clash in inaugural UEFA Conference League
Tammy Abraham fired Roma into the inaugural final of the Europa Conference League on Thursday with the only goal in a 1-0 win over Leicester City which put the Italian side through 2-1 on aggregate.
Abraham smashed home a powerful header in the 11th minute at a bouncing Stadio Olimpico in Rome to put Jose Mourinho’s team into their first European final in more than three decades.
Roma fans have not seen their team win a trophy since 2008 and the roar let out at the final whistle was one of massive relief after spending much of the match on the back foot against the Foxes, themselves gunning for a first major continental final.
Brendan Rodgers’ team ran into the ground against a typically well-organised Mourinho side who were content to let Leicester do the running and try to pick the away side off on the break once their aggregate advantage was established early on.
After the match Roma announced tickets for the final would be distributed for free to season ticket holders, a reward for the phenomenal support shown to a team which currently sits fifth in Serie A.
Feyenoord on the other hand put up a solid defensive performance as they gained maximum value for their 3-2 win in the first leg.
Marseille seized the initiative after a cagey start, Payet having one half-chance blocked before sending another just over the bar following an inviting lay-off from Matteo Guendouzi.
However, they received a major blow on 33 minutes as Payet was forced off the pitch, the 35-year-old’s mind doubtless going back to the 2017/18 UEFA Europa League final when he was taken off injured during his side’s defeat against Atlético.
Arne Slot’s side started to create half-chances before the break, but sensibly picked their battles after the interval, preserving energy and allowing Marseille to come at them. However, with Payet such a crucial attacking figure, Marseille were unable to make much of the extra time on the ball, a Valentin Rongier effort straight at Ofir Marciano indicative of their inability to ask the right questions of their guests.
Gernot Trauner fired just over from the edge of the box on 67 minutes as Feyenoord momentarily found some attacking bite.
Marseille continued to enjoy the bulk of possession but Feyenoord denied them any meaningful openings and might have won the game in added time, Steve Mandanda making a decent save from substitute Alireza Jahanbakhsh before Orkun Kökçü sent a long-range effort just over.
Roma play Feyenoord at the National Arena in Tirana. The game will kick off at 21:00 CET on Wednesday 25 May.
