Milan: Roma gave Vincenzo Montella a winning start as coach, beating Bologna 1-0 from Daniele De Rossi's goal in the Serie A on Wednesday.
Montella, a former Roma and Italy striker, took over from Claudio Ranieri on Monday. Ranieri resigned on Sunday after the capital club had slumped to four consecutive losses.
De Rossi scored just before halftime after Mirko Vucinic had taken advantage of poor defending.
The game was the continuation of the match that was called off due to heavy snow on Jan. 30, and so began at the point it finished with a Bologna corner in the 16th minute.
"The defense was exceptional and Vucinic did a massive amount of work," Montella said. "I have a group of guys who want to work."
Roma midfielder Fabio Simplicio had the first chance early on. De Rossi picked him out with a through ball behind the defense, but goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano beat his shot away.
Bologna then went close on two occasions. Goalkeeper Doni stopped Riccardo Meggiorini's low volley and Nicolas Burdisso blocked a shot from Gaston Ramirez after John Arne Riise had knocked the ball into his path.
Roma took the lead when Bologna defender Federico Casarini dithered on a ball that was played over the defense, allowing Vucinic to dispossess him. The Montenegrin pulled the ball back for De Rossi, who fired a shot that deflected off Nicolo Cherubin to beat Viviano at the near post.
In the second half, both sides struggled to find a way through packed defenses. Roma midfielder Matteo Brighi had a late chance to wrap the match up, but Viviano came off his line to smother his shot and clear the danger.
"We have found our fighting spirit again after perhaps losing it in the last few games," De Rossi said. "Today there was a fighting spirit that we may have lost in other circumstances, but we have to try and keep hold of it from now on."
Comments
0 comment