TAMMY THE HERO
Abraham on target to deny the Foxes
IF there is to be any consolation for Leicester City supporters at missing out on a first European Final, they may be pleased to learn that at least Claudio Ranieri is happy.
The Foxes’ title-winning manager is a lifelong Roma fan and admitted this week that despite his glorious history with Leicester, he would be cheering on Jose Mourinho’s team here.
The Italian’s wish was granted, as Tammy Abraham’s early goal was enough to give Mourinho his first appearance in a major European final for five years. After last week’s draw at the King Power Stadium, Roma will face Feyenoord to win the first edition of the Europa Conference League.
Leicester are currently 11th in the Premier League, so losing narrowly over two legs to the fifthbest team in Serie A is no disgrace. Yet after scrambling through tough ties against Rennes and PSV Eindhoven, Brendan Rodgers and his players will be disappointed they could not threaten more. Rui Patricio did not have a serious save to make and while Leicester believed they should have had an early penalty, they have the players to test Mourinho’s men, their frustrations with referee Srdjan Jovanovic notwithstanding.
With Jamie Vardy at his sharpest, things would surely have been different. Instead, Abraham did everything Vardy usually does — hassling defenders, spinning into space at speed and combining with his fellow attackers. Brought to the Italian capital last season from Chelsea, Abraham is one of Europe’s signings of the season and it was fitting he should strike the decisive blow.
The atmosphere was building with more than two hours still to go before kick-off, with pyrotechnic displays and singing outside the ground. The 3,500 Leicester fans who had made the trip were also making themselves heard.
Leicester chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha had travelled to the Italian capital and received a joyous reception from the Foxes fans when he went to applaud them. But there was always the potential for flashpoints in the stands, and with half an hour still to go before kick-off, Roma fans started to launch flares into the Leicester section, prompting a PA announcement ordering them in vain to stop.
As the sides entered the pitch, the hardcore fans in the Curva Sud unveiled a banner that read ‘Everyone in Britain dreaded the name of the Romans.’
The banner had barely been rolled away when Leicester demanded a penalty as Wesley Fofana was grabbed around the waist by Chris Smalling at a corner. Even though VAR was in use, the former Manchester United defender was not penalised.
Rodgers’ side were attempting to end an intimidating record: Roma began the night unbeaten in 18 European home games and had lost only one of their previous 28.
In the eighth minute they had two warnings of Roma’s threat when Kasper Schmeichel scrambled Lorenzo Pellegrini’s free-kick behind and Smalling headed the corner over. Sadly for the Foxes, they did not heed them.
After another Pellegrini strike had brought a corner, the Roma captain’s delivery was perfect for Abraham to head past Schmeichel from close range in the 11th minute. With such a height advantage over his marker Ricardo Pereira, the Englishman’s 27th goal of the campaign was also one of his easiest.
Pellegrini continued to combine with Roma’s impressive left wingback Nicola Zalewski, this time for an angled volley that again called Schmeichel into action.
Leicester nearly conceded a second when Abraham charged forward and fed Nicolo Zaniolo, who chose to shoot rather than play the return pass that would have given Abraham a tap-in.
The visitors’ wide men Ademola Lookman and Harvey Barnes had been ineffective before the break and it was no surprise to see both taken off at half-time.
Daniel Amartey and Kelechi Iheanacho were introduced as Rodgers switched to a back three and paired Iheanacho with Vardy, matching Mourinho’s 3-4-1-2.
Vardy was isolated in the first half and appeared rusty — no surprise for a player who has spent much of 2022 injured. In the early stages of the second half, Leicester competed better with this physical Roma side and began to offer hope of a comeback, but there was very little to worry Rui Patricio in the home goal.
When they won a corner, Vardy pulled into space to meet James Maddison’s delivery only to see his shot blocked by Abraham.
Ranieri was applauded by the fans when he appeared on the big screen midway through the second half. Sadly for Leicester, only one of his former clubs still have a shot at glory this season.
ROMA (3-4-1-2): Patricio 6; Mancini 7, Smalling 7, Ibanez 7; Karsdorp 6, Cristante 6.5, Oliveira 6.5, Zalewski 7.5 (Vina 84min); PELLEGRINI 8; Zaniolo 6.5 (Veretout 78), Abraham 7.5 (Shomurodov 89). Scorer: Abraham 11. Booked: Mancini, Karsdorp. Manager: Jose Mourinho 7. LEICESTER CITY (4-3-3): Schmeichel 6; Pereira 6 (Castagne 70, 6), Fofana 6, Evans 6, Justin 6; Maddison 6, Tielemans 5, Dewsbury-Hall 6.5 (Perez 77); Lookman 5 (Amartey 46, 6), Vardy 5.5, Barnes 5 (Iheanacho 46, 6). Booked: Fofana. Manager: Brendan Rodgers 6. Referee: Srdan Jovanovic 6. Attendance: 63,940.