Europa League: AS Roma spank Brighton
AS Roma asserted their dominance in the first leg of their Europa League clash against Brighton, securing a convincing 4-0 victory at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. The Italian side displayed clinical finishing and relentless attacking prowess, leaving Brighton struggling to contain their offensive onslaught.
Roma fielded a formidable lineup, with notable players such as Romelu Lukaku, Paulo Dybala, and Stephan El Shaarawy leading the charge. On the other hand, Brighton made several changes to their starting XI, introducing familiar faces like Simon Adingra, Pascal Gross, and Danny Welbeck.
The match began with Roma setting a brisk tempo, and they wasted no time in breaking the deadlock. Paulo Dybala capitalized on a precise pass from Leandro Paredes in the 13th minute, calmly rounding the goalkeeper before slotting the ball into the net to give Roma the lead.
Roma extended their advantage just before halftime, capitalizing on a defensive error from Brighton. Romelu Lukaku seized the opportunity, capitalizing on a mistake from Lewis Dunk to double Roma’s lead with a clinical finish.
The second half saw Roma continue their relentless pursuit of goals, with Gianluca Mancini adding a third in the 64th minute. Mancini met a cross with a well-timed header, leaving Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele helpless as the ball found the back of the net.
Roma further compounded Brighton’s misery with a fourth goal shortly after, courtesy of Bryan Cristante’s diving header. Stephan El Shaarawy’s exquisite assist set up Cristante for an emphatic finish, sealing Roma’s comprehensive victory.
Overall, Roma’s dominant performance in the first leg provided them with a significant advantage heading into the return fixture in England. With their attacking prowess on full display, Roma sent a clear message to Brighton and their future opponents in the Europa League.
