Soulé along with Pellegrini find the net as AS Roma outclass Rangers
Roma displayed admirable efficiency about the way the Italian side handled this journey to Scotland. Without much drama. Roma from Rome did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when putting their European competition bid back on track. Observers noted a glaring difference in class between Roma and a Rangers side that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven continental matches in a row.
To their credit, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a later period when capitulation felt the more likely outcome. Yet, the match was settled as a competition at that stage. Rangers remain rooted to the foot of the Europa League, which should constitute an embarrassment to a team of this standing. Roma have eyes once more on making proper impact. Their only regret here was in not delivering a scoreline appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.
Amazingly, this represented only Roma’s second-ever European joust with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in the early 60s. Their last such match, against the Terrors over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the bribing of a referee. Back then, teams from Scotland could vie with the top sides in the continent. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a level that will soon have major ramifications.
Danny Röhl’s main quality so far as the fanbase are see it is that he isn’t Russell Martin. The latter’s dismal spell as the head coach continued for 123 days in the initial phase of the campaign. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has shown promise though within a limited timeframe. The technical areas saw a generation game; Röhl is thirty-six, his counterpart the Roma manager is 67.
A further factor was far more striking as the sides took the field. Rangers’ glaring lack of height against the Italians looked ominous. This point was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder comfortably redirected a corner at the front post. At the back, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to knock his team in front. A Roma team without the unavailable their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge even with decent results in this campaign, were delighted with their quick lead.
The Ibrox side could have levelled matters instantly. Rather, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. The player’s £8m purchase from Everton has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physical attributes to be an effective striker but appears reluctant or incapable to use them.
Roma controlled first-half possession from that point. Roma doubled their lead through their captain, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net came after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will lament the fact the midfielder was left in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous strike. The stadium, usually a raucous venue on continental evenings, had been silenced nine minutes until halftime. Even the boos which greeted the interval were subdued; the home team were clearly in the midst of being outclassed.
The second period started against a unusual atmosphere. Those Rangers fans directed their focus once again towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, obviously sinister in tone, depicted the duo with targets on their faces. One wonders what the Rangers chairman thinks about all this. Ultimately, the chairman enjoyed an anonymous life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before leading a acquisition of Rangers. Paying punters have not turned on the owner yet but there is a mutinous feeling around the club. It is one which is easy to understand; The team’s leadership is wholly unconvincing.
As if scripted, Chermiti was played in on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and found only the outside of the goal. That moment sparked Rangers’ finest spell of the match, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. Yet, however, difficult to gauge the visitors’ continued attacking motivation until the full-back was given a chance from close range which he somehow hit up and on to the underside of the crossbar.
That opportunity as far as meaningful opportunity were involved. The raft of changes from each side resulted in this game ended more in the style of a summer exhibition than competitive match. That scenario benefited the Italians perfectly. It prompted reflection to ponder how on earth the Glasgow club, runners-up in this tournament in recently and strong enough of the last eight a season ago, reached the stage of just participating.
