Roma fights and is reborn in London, 2-2 with Tottenham

The best Roma of the season drew 2-2 at Tottenham and rises to 6 points in the standings Europa League. Before facing the Giallorossi, Spurs had won their last seven home games of the tournament without conceding a goal. Ranieri’s team scores two goals, with Ndicka in the 20th minute and Hummels at the last gasp and represent an injection of self-esteem against an opponent fresh from the 4-0 defeat inflicted on City. Postecoglou’s team has skyrocketing morale and is off to a flying start: Hummels fouls Sarr in the area, referee Nyberg goes to the VAR and awards the penalty: from eleven meters Son makes no mistake.

However, Roma were aggressive and equalized in the 20th minute with a header from Ndicka following a free kick. Three minutes later the Giallorossi also found the 2-1 goal with a volley from El Shaarawy, but the VAR deemed the Italian-Egyptian to be offside. Once the scare was over, Tottenham returned to crushing Roma, even if it was Forster (in goal in place of the injured Vicario) who kept Spurs afloat with a great save on a shot from Dybala in the 27th minute. Svilar is no exception either: the Giallorossi goalkeeper denies Solanke a goal in the 27th minute after a save on the line by Angelino, then closes the door also on a conclusion by Sarr.

In the end, however, he had to give up in the 33rd minute on Johnson’s left-footed shot who anticipated Angelino and made the most of Kulusevski’s low cross. At the end of the first half the former Juventus player also hits a post, while Son finds a rebound from Svilar with a close-range right-footed shot. At half-time Ranieri removes Dybala and inserts Soulè. Roma had two more goals disallowed for offside (one to Kone, clear, the other millimetric to Dovbyk), while in the 59th minute it was the crossbar that denied Angelino the goal. And it was always the crossbar that stopped Porro’s free kick in the 62nd minute and denied Solanke a goal with a header in the 81st minute. Roma celebrated in injury time thanks to Hummels who pushed the ball into the net following Angelino’s cross shot. Now three matches to revive the European season: Braga (12 December), AZ (23 January) and Eintracht (30 January).

 TOTTENHAM (4-3-3): Forster 6.5; Porro 6.5, Dragusin 6, Davies 6, Gray 6; Kulusevski 6.5, Bentancur 6.5 (32' st Bergvall sv), Johnson 7 (23' st Bissouma 6); Sarr 6.5 (23' st Maddison 6), Solanke 5, Son 7 (32' st Werner sv). In panchina: Austin, Whiteman, Udogie, Olusesi, King, Williams-Barnett, Hardy. Allenatore: Postecoglou 6.  ROMA (3-4-3): Svilar 6; Mancini 6.5, Hummels 6, Ndicka 7; Celik 6 (20' st Zalewski 6), Paredes 6, Kone 7.5, Angelino 7; Dybala 6.5 (1' st Soule' 6), Dovbyk 5, El Shaarawy 6 (24' st Saelemaekers 6). In panchina: Marin, Ryan, Cristante, Pellegrini, Abdulhamid, Le Fe'e, Baldanzi, Pisilli, Sangare.  Allenatore: Ranieri 7.