Roma reversed Ludogorets with two penalties, a disallowed goal and a red card

Roma overturned Ludogorets at Olimpico with two penalties, a disallowed goal and a red card, securing second place in Group C of the Europa League.

Thus, the “wolves” will continue in the spring in this tournament, while the people of Razgrad will move to the Conference League.

Ludogorets pulled ahead with a great goal by Rick Jonathan in the 41st minute, but Roma made a complete turnaround with two penalties scored by Pellegrini (56 and 65), and at the end of the match, Zaniolo also made a splash (85).

A goal by Nonato from Ludogorets was controversially canceled by VAR, and in the 90th minute Olivier Verdon received a straight red card.

The match offered great football in front of nearly 70,000 spectators in the stands for the final 3:1.

So Betis won this group, second place was Roma, third was Ludogorets, and out of the European tournaments was HIK.

Ludogorets played a perfect first half in which he created three or four situations and deservedly retired with a goal lead at the break. In the 21st minute, Cowley and Thiago combined well and created a situation for Bernard Tekpetei, who shot powerfully but wide.

In the 38th minute, Tekpetei again broke through and shot on the grass, but again he did not find the frame of the goal. Three minutes later, Cowley finished another counterattack with a shot from the edge of the penalty area, but the ball “licked” the post and went out.

The strong game of Ludogorets was crowned with a goal, which was realized by Rick Jonathan in the 42nd minute. The Brazilian took the ball in his own half, ran half the pitch and with a powerful shot from the arc of the penalty area left no chance for Rui Patricio.

The players of Roma totally disappointed their supporters who filled the stadium to the limit and were sent with boos to the dressing room.

Jose Mourinho reacted to the situation and made three changes at the break that completely transformed Roma’s game. The Portuguese took off the unconvincing Belotti, Camara and Karsdorp and brought freshness to the game by bringing on Volpato, Zaniolo and Cristante.

Immediately after the resumption of the game, the Roma players rushed to attack and already in the opening seconds of the second half Zaniolo and El Shaaraoui missed clear chances.

The Romans’ pressure paid off in the 56th minute when Zaniolo was brought down in the box by Cicinho and the referee awarded a penalty which Lorenzo Pellegrini converted to make it 1-1.

Ten minutes later the situation was repeated: Zaniolo was brought into a shooting position and Verdon fouled him, and the referee did not hesitate to award a second penalty to Roma. Pellegrini stood behind the ball again, sending Sergio Padt into the opposite corner again – 2:1.

The second goal for Roma reduced the momentum of the home team and this allowed Ludogorets to look at Patricio’s goal again. In the 73rd minute, Tissera shot dangerously, but the goalkeeper saved. Two minutes later, the people of Razgrad scored a goal scored by the Brazilian Nonato. However, the goal was disallowed after a VAR review due to Rick’s foul on Ibanez at the start of the attack.

Five minutes before the end of regular time, hero of the match Zaniolo crowned his excellent game with a goal after an individual breakthrough for the final 3:1. In the end, Ludogorets was down to 10 men after Olivier Verdon’s red card for a dangerous play against Zalevski.

Roma – Ludogorets 3:1

Scorers:

0:1 Rick (41)

1:1 Pellegrini (56 – penalty)

2:1 Pellegrini (65 – penalty)

3:1 Zaniolo (85)

Roma: 1. Rui Patricio, 2. Karsdorp, 6. Smalling, 3. Ibanez, 17. Vigna, 7. Pellegrini, 8. Matic, 20. Kamara, 92. El Shaaraoui, 9. Abraham, 11. Belotti

Ludogorets: 1. Padt, 4. Sisinho, 3. Nedyalkov, 24. Verdon, 16. Vitri, 30. Naresi, 6. Piotrowski, 95. Cowley, 37. Tekpetei, 73. Rick, 9. Thiago