Featured Image Credit: BT Sport & PA Images
Topics: AS Roma, Roma, Feyenoord, Jose Mourinho, Football, Europa Conference League
Rory O'Callaghan
Topics: AS Roma, Roma, Feyenoord, Jose Mourinho, Football, Europa Conference League
Roma have been crowned the inaugural Europa Conference League champions after beating Feyenoord 1-0 in the final in Tirana.
Nicolo Zaniolo's first-half goal was enough to secure victory for the Italian club at the Arena Kombëtare.
It is yet another European trophy for Roma boss Jose Mourinho, who becomes the first manager to win UEFA's three major club competitions.
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Mourinho had already won the Champions League with both Porto (2004) and Inter Milan (2010), and the Europa League with Porto (2003) and Manchester United (2017).
He now adds the Europa Conference League to his collection and becomes the first manager to win a European trophy with four different clubs, with the victory also maintaining his proud record of having never lost a UEFA tournament final.
Both Roma and Feyenoord struggled to create clear-cut chances during a cagey first half in Albania, with the Dutch side enjoying the greater share of possession.
But it was Roma who would take the lead shortly after the half hour mark.
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Zaniolo expertly controlled a cross from Gianluca Mancini with his chest before dinking a clever finish over Feyenoord goalkeeper Justin Bijlow to give Roma the lead with their first shot on target.
Feyenoord had disappointed during the first half but looked much more threatening after the break and went close to an equaliser when Mancini turned the ball onto his own post.
Roma goalkeeper Rui Patricio producing a fine save from the follow up and was in action again minutes later, superbly tipping Tyrell Malacia's thunderbolt onto the post.
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Feyenoord were then lucky to avoid a red card when central defender Marcos Senesi pulled back Roma striker Tammy Abraham when he looked through on goal.
The England international chose to remain on his feet and was seemingly punished for his honesty, with Romanian referee Istvan Kovacs failing to give a free-kick and VAR opting not to overturn the decision.
Feyenoord continued to push hard for an equaliser in the closing stages of the match.
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But they were continually denied by Roma's back three of Mancini, Roger Ibanez and Chris Smalling, as the Italian side held on to win their maiden European trophy and their first piece of major silverware since 2008.