SAN FRANCISCO, November 05, (THEWILL) – Serie A side Roma thrashed Romanian visitors CFR Cluj 5-0 in their UEFA Europa League Group A fixture with an early Henrikh Mkhitaryan goal and Borja Mayoral brace to open a three point gap at the top of the group.
The Armenian central attacking midfielder Mkhitaryan opened scoring in the 2nd minute with a header from the centre of the box to the top right corner. The assist came from Roma’s left midfielder Leonardo Spinazzola.
In the 23rd minute, Brazilian centre back Roger Ibanez made it two with another header. Again, it was from the before of the box. But Ibanez headed to the top left corner. French central midfielder Jordan Veretout supplied the cross following a Roma corner.
Then, French striker Mayoral netted his first goal. In the 33rd minute, Brazilian right winger Bruno Peres, headed a cross into Mayoral’s path, and the latter’s right footed shot from very close range beat the Cluj keeper, Cristian Balgradean, to the bottom right corner.
Both sides made a raft of substitutions at the start of the second period as Roma clearly showed every intent to kill off the game with attacking minded changes. Juan Jesus came on for Leonardo Spinazzola, Pedro Rodriguez for Veretout and Mkhitaryan was removed for Lorenzo Pellegrini.
Then, in a defensive change, as Cluj struggled to find a goal, Roma brought on centre back Chris Smalling for Ibanez in the 60th minute.
Mayoral completed his brace to cap a fine performance in the 83rd minute when he placed a right-footed shot from the centre of the box into the net.
Five minutes later, substitute Pedro’s left footed shot from the left side of the box, found its way to nestle at the bottom right corner from a Tommaso Milanese assist.
It was a win that gave Roma breathing space in the group with seven points after this victory. Young Boys, who are second after Matchday 3, are on 4 points, the same with Cluj. PFC CSKA-Sofia are bottom of the group with a solitary point.
Roma are on the road against Genoa in their next Serie A engagement before the international break while Cluj battle it out away against FC Arges Pitesti back in the Romanian LIGA 1.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
