Conference League | Roma 5-1 CSKA Sofia: Pellegrini inspirational
Roma had an early scare from CSKA Sofia, but eventually ran out 5-1 winners with a Lorenzo Pellegrini brace and Stephan El Shaarawy strike the pick of the bunch.
Jose Mourinho had won all five games so far this season between Serie A and the Conference League play-offs, so enacted some squad rotation against Bulgarians CSKA Sofia.
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It was a shocking start from the Giallorossi, who were caught having a mass nap in defence where three players left the loose ball, allowing Graham Carey to pounce and blast it into the far top corner from a tight angle.
Stephan El Shaarawy failed to make the most of the inspired Gonzalo Villar ball over the top, while Busatto denied Eldor Shomurodov.
Lorenzo Pellegrini got them back on level terms with a wonderful individual goal, his first touch controlling a Rick Karsdorp cross on the edge of the box, the second with the inside of the right boot looping into the far top corner.
El Shaarawy turned the game around with another well-taken strike, drilling into the near bottom corner from the D.
Roma were a little sluggish after the restart and risked an equaliser, Rui Patricio making himself big against Muhar at the near post.
They took the hint and extended their advantage, Riccardo Calafiori getting to the by-line and pulling back for Pellegrini’s cushioned finish from seven yards.
The Bulgarians went down to 10 men for Wildschut’s second bookable offence on Carles Perez.
Moments later, Roma added a fourth goal. A corner was not cleared, Chris Smalling volleyed onto the far post from close range, but Gianluca Mancini turned in the rebound.
Shomurodov also thumped the same upright and then his assist allowed Tammy Abraham to spring the offside trap, dinking his finish over the on-rushing goalkeeper.
Roma 5-1 CSKA Sofia
Carey 10 (C), Pellegrini 25, 62 (R), El Shaarawy 38 (R), Mancini 82 (R), Abraham 84 (R)
Sent off: Wildschut 80 (C)