By Petar Todorovski
New coach and former player of Roma, Vincenzo Montella, started his coaching career with a minimal but very important victory against tough Bologna on Stadio Renato Dall’Ara. Danielle De Rossi scored the goal that was worth three points.
Montella brought some changes into the starting line-up, including Rodrigo Taddei as wide attacker together with Fabio Simplicio and Mirko Vucinic, while Marco Borriello was fielded as a lone striker. The most surprising was the fact that Jeremy Menez was left on the bench together with defender Juan, who had deserved that with latest performance. Francesco Totti was on the bench, too.
The Giallorossi tactics was to wait for a chance from opposition’s mistake and the match went into a boring midfield battle. Mirko Vucinic and Riccardo Meggiorini had attempts that were unsuccessful, while the Marco Di Vaio had the best chance in 23rd minute. Fabio Simplicio was the most dangerous man in the proceeding, with two unsuccessful tries. Roma players looked more determined to open the score sheet and it finally happened in 45th minute, when the deflected shot by Danielle De Rossi finished into the net of Emiliano Viviano.
The result 1-0 remained until the end of the match. The pace dropped in the second half and both teams struggled to create any clear chances. Bologna was more likely to score, but their efforts always finished either wide or in the hands of Doni.
Roma didn’t do anything until 78th minute when Mirko Vucinic lobbed the keeper and thought that he doubled the lead, but the referee ruled out the goal. Matteo Brighi had the best scoring opportunity in the second half when substitute Jeremy Menez employed him with a wonderful pass, but he failed in his attempt.
Debutant coach Vincenzo Montella was delighted with the result and commented about his emotions. “I felt really strong emotions, but only at the final whistle. Before that I stayed calm,” he said.
Unlike him, Alberto Malesani was disappointed with the narrow and, as he says, undeserved loss by the favorites of the match. “The right result was a 0-0 draw, but Roma had a long shot deflected in our net and this proved decisive. We played well and deserved more. Roma did great in defense in the second half, but a great team like them should attack a team like Bologna, not the other way around.”
Roma expects the next match against Parma at home on the sixth position with 42 points, six less than positions which lead to Champions League for the next season.
