Roma 2-1 Porto: Nicolo Zaniolo hits brace as Italian side secure first leg victory in Champions League clash but Adrian Lopez scores away goal
- Nicolo Zaniolo scored a brace as Roma beat Porto 2-1 in the Champions League
- Zaniolo opened scoring in the 70th minute and added another six minutes later
- Porto scored an away goal in the 79th minute when Adrian found the net
Teenage midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo proved he can shine on the European stage, scoring both goals to give Roma a 2-1 win at home against Porto in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 on Tuesday.
Zaniolo has emerged as one of Serie A’s most promising talents this season since his transfer from Inter Milan in the offseason as part of the deal which saw Radja Nainggolan move the other way.
And the 19-year-old added his first Champions League goals by netting the 70th and 76th minute for Roma, before Adrian Lopez pulled one back for Porto three minutes later.
Niccolo Zaniolo celebrates after putting Roma in the lead against Porto
Zaniolo showed terrific composure to open the scoring for Roma in the 70th minute
Zaniolo is congratulated by team-mate Stephan El Shaarawy following his second goal
The opening goal came after Edin Dzeko knocked down Stephan El Shaarawy’s cross for Zaniolo to drill past Iker Casillas and into the far bottom corner. The teenager doubled his tally by tapping in the rebound after Dzeko’s shot came off the left post.
It was the second time Dzeko had hit the post.
Porto, which was undefeated in the Champions League this season, got a valuable away goal with a bit of luck when Tiqinho Soares’s effort was so poor that it bounced into the air and turned into an assist for Lopez, who fired into the far corner.
Adrian Lopez managed to pull a goal back for Porto in the closing stages of the game
Lopez celebrates with team-mate Andre Pereira after giving Porto a boost
MATCH FACTS AND MATCH ZONE
Roma: Mirante; Florenzi, Manolas, Fazio, Kolarov; Cristante, De Rossi, Pellegrini (Nzonzi 83); Zaniolo (Santon 87), Dzeko, El Shaarawy (Kluivert 90)
Subs not used: Olsen, Juan Jesus, Ivan Marcano, Pastore
Goals: Zaniolo 70, 76
Booked: El Shaarawy
Porto: Casillas; Eder Militao, Felipe, Pepe, Telles; Otavinho (Hernani 84), Danilo Pereira, Herrera, Brahimi (Adrian 68); Tiquinho, Fernando (Andre Pereira 76)
Subs not used: Pereira, Bruno Costa, Oliver Torres, Vana
Goal: Adrian 79
Booked: Herrera
Nicolo Zaniolo opened the scoring for Roma in the 70th minute
Video review was being used for the first time in the Champions League and it was called into play in the 18th minute but a check ruled that Pepe’s handball in the penalty area was unintentional.
In the night’s other Champions League match, Ole Solskjaer suffered his first defeat as Manchester United coach as his side lost 2-0 at home to Paris Saint-Germain.
Presnel Kimpembe and Kylian Mbappe scored for PSG in the second half, while Paul Pogba was sent off late on following two yellow cards.
Roma attacker El Shaarawy attempts to win the ball from Porto’s Otavio
Roma striker Edin Dzeko looks to play a pass while under pressure from Hector Herrera
Lorenzo Pellegrini attempts to win a header for Roma as he competes with Porto’s Danilo