AS Roma were left regretting missed chances after Lille stunned the Stadio Olimpico with a sixth-minute strike from Hákon Haraldsson to win 1-0 in Matchday 2 of the UEFA Europa League. The early goal proved decisive in a match dominated by drama rather than goals and late chaos from the penalty spot.
Haraldsson latched on to a swift Lille counter and fired low into the corner in the 6th minute, leaving Mile Svilar with little chance and handing the visitors an early foothold. Roma dominated possession thereafter and peppered the Lille box with crosses and shots, but the Italian side could not find the finishing touch.
The game’s most extraordinary episode came late when Roma were awarded a penalty and the spot-kick sequence became historic for the wrong reasons. Artem Dovbyk’s initial effort was saved, then ordered to be retaken for encroachment. The second attempt was saved too and, after further encroachment, Matías Soulé was eventually sent to the spot for the third try. Each attempt was thwarted by Lille’s goalkeeper Berke Özer, who denied Roma three consecutive penalty attempts to preserve the 1-0 lead and send the away end into delirium. The missed chances left the Olimpico stunned and put Roma’s wastefulness squarely under the microscope.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s side will take positives from a committed performance in attack and a number of dangerous openings, but tonight the finishing was not there. Lille, compact and clinical on the counter, took their chance and then defended with bravery and discipline to claim a priceless European victory.
Lineups
AS Roma: Svilar; Çelik, Hermoso, N’Dicka; Wesley, Cristante, El Aynaoui, Tsimikas; Soulé, Pellegrini; Ferguson.
Lille: Berke Özer; Thomas Meunier, Aïssa Mandi, Chancel Mbemba, Calvin Verdonk; Ayyoub Bouaddi, Nabil Bentaleb; Matías Fernández-Pardo, Hákon Arnar Haraldsson, Félix Correia; Olivier Giroud
Head to head:
Meetings between Roma and Lille have been sporadic in recent years. Tonight’s win was a rare and memorable away victory for the French side at the Olimpico and will be remembered more for the penalty saga than the scoreline.
Next Fixture
Roma will regroup for their next Europa League assignment — the Giallorossi host Viktoria Plzeň in the group phase on October 23. The missed opportunities from tonight will offer plenty to work on before the return to continental action.
Lille, on the other hand, will take on PSG in Matchday 7 of the French Ligue 1 on Sunday.
