Roma teen told to stay humble

– AS Roma teenager Nicolò Zaniolo (above) has been told to keep his feet on the ground after becoming the youngest Italian to score twice in a Champions League match as they beat visiting Porto 2-1 in their last-16, first leg.

Roma coach Eusebio di Francesco sent out the warning after the 19-year-old scored his brace for the Serie A side in six second-half minutes at the Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday.

Zaniolo gave Roma a comfortable advantage before Porto substitute Adrián López responded with an away goal.

“It’s right for him to be lauded, he has done well,” Di Francesco said post match. “He is on a path of development that is beyond expectations.

“I hear people taking credit for Zaniolo, but it’s me who coaches him. Now he needs balance...”

Di Francesco was pleased with his side’s performance, particularly in the second half, despite them conceding what could be a crucial goal with 10 min left.

“We grew into the game and used the ball better, the central midfielders were better with the quality of their play,” he said after Edin Džeko struck the post in an uneventful first period. “The two teams were looking at and studying each other.

“We had more determination in the final third. It was one of our best performances from the perspective of feeling like a team.”

Porto coach Sérgio Conceição believes the tie remains finely poised ahead of the second leg in Portugal on March 6.

“At the start it was balanced, then when we tried to be more incisive we conceded,” he said.

“I liked our way of defending and also how Roma played. We have a 50-50 chance, just like before the game.” – Reuters

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