Roma vs Feyenoord LIVE: Europa Conference League final result, final score and reaction tonight
Latest updates from Tirana as the Dutch and Italian giants battle for the inaugral Conference League trophy
Jose Mourinho has guided AS Roma to their first-ever Uefa competition triumph, with the Italian side beating Feyenoord 1-0 in the final of the Europa Conference League in Tirana.
Nicolo Zaniolo scored the only goal of the game, with the Dutch side twice seeing efforts rebound off the woodwork in the second half. The Italian attacking midfielder fired home from his side’s first chance in the 32nd minute as Jose Mourinho’s men sealed their first silverware since the 2008 Coppa Italia.
It proved a typical Mourinho-style triumph as Roma sat deep and soaked up plenty of pressure before cruising through the second half with the minimum of fuss. The Dutch side, who last won the Uefa Cup in 2002, dominated the early possession but failed to create any meaningful chances and were punished when Zaniolo chested down a cross from Roger Ibanez and put his side in front. Follow the Europa Conference League final match reaction below:
GOAL! Roma 1-0 Feyenoord (Zaniolo, 32)
32 mins: First chance and a first goal!
Well, it’s been a torrid opening 32 minutes but suddenly Roma are ahead! Ibanez sends an enticing cross into the middle. Trauner gets a flick to it with his head but can’t stop it dropping to Zaniolo. He brings it down with his chest and then clips his shot perfectly over the sprawling Bijlow.
Classic Mourinho. No opportunities for half an hour. Suddenly, goal.
Roma 0-0 Feyenoord
30 mins: Roma are awarded a free-kick 10 yards inside the Feyenoord half. Pellegrini swings it into a dangerous area but nobody makes any contact with the ball and Bijlow has the simple task of mopping up.
Moments later Ibanez tries a similar inswinging cross which Oliveira is sprinting onto but Bijlow is out once more to claim.
Roma beginning to grow into the match a little more. Been a fairly flat game so far though.
Roma 0-0 Feyenoord
27 mins: First real incisive pass from Roma. Pellegrini tries to find Zalewski with a pass through the eye of a needle but it narrowly skips beyond the Italian and Bijlow can collect the ball.
Feyenoord then create a meaningful attack of their own as Nelson drives infield but is tackled as he threatens to make his way into the penalty area.
YELLOW! Here come Roma again as Abraham gets on the ball for the first time. He knocks the ball beyond Trauner on the halfway line and is then cynically brought down. Trauner goes in the book.
Finally some energy is injected into this game.
Roma 0-0 Feyenoord
24 mins: It’s been an incredibly negative start by Roma who are content to sit in their own half and watch Feyenoord probe for an opening. Zaniolo eventually gives his defenders a breather by drawing a foul.
But Feyenoord immediately pinch the ball and come forward yet again. I don’t think I have even mentioned Tammy Abraham on the ball so far tonight. That should tell you all you need to know.
Roma 0-0 Feyenoord
21 mins: Roma give the ball away yet again in their own half. Dessers pounces on the loose pass and lays it off to Til who shanks his shot into a Roma leg. Nelson then allows Roma to regroup as he brings down Ibanez for the free-kick.
Mancini then gives a free-kick away to Feyenoord in his own half - where almost the entirety of the opening quarter of this game has been played.
The set-piece is played out to Nelson who tries to beat Zalewski down the flank but the Roma man does well to stop the cross and win a goal kick.
Roma 0-0 Feyenoord
18 mins: SUB! Body blow for Roma here. Henrikh Mkhitaryan goes down and isn’t going to be able to continue here. He was in a race to be fit for the final and has lasted less than 20 minutes.
The former Arsenal and Manchester United man trudges off the pitch and is replaced by Sergio Oliveira.
Roma 0-0 Feyenoord
15 mins: Feyenoord have had 71 per cent of the ball in the opening quarter of an hour. But that won’t bother a certain manager one bit. The Dutch side have enjoyed almost all of the possession but are yet to really make it count in front of goal.
Aursnes sends a cross in from the left towards Til at the back post but it’s beyond him and out for a Roma goal kick.
Feyenoord win it straight back though. Roma defender Mancini throws his arm up in the air in frustration. The Italians are yet to get a hold of this final.
Roma 0-0 Feyenoord
12 mins: Sinisterra does excellently to hold off Mancini down the left-hand side. He manages to work the space for a cross but it’s straight into the arms of Patricio.
Senesi and Malacia get away with playing the ball around on the edge of their own box. Feyenoord clearly have very little fear and a lot of belief in their ability to play it out from the back.
Zaniolo is picked out down the left channel but Senesi gets his body across as the Roma attacker looks to drive infield.
No real chances to speak of as yet.
Roma 0-0 Feyenoord
9 mins: Feyenoord steal the ball away from Cristante midway inside the Roma half but this time the Italians get away with it as it kindly bounces back to Mancini.
Cristante plays a lovely crossfield ball for Zalewski who manages to keep it in play but then fails to sustain the attack.
Roma then come forward once more as Karsdorp’s dangerous cross is over the head of Abraham and Pellegrini fails to get any meaningful connection on the ball.
Better from Roma after a difficult start.
Roma 0-0 Feyenoord
6 mins: Roma sitting very deep in the early stages as Feyenoord press high up the pitch. The Dutch outfit are enjoying lengthy spells on the ball.
Senesi slides a pass into Kokcu on the edge of the box and Smalling quickly closes the distance to smother the Feyenoord midfielder.
Dare I say it? A typical Jose Mourinho shape.
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