Italy: Roma save a point thanks to their under-20s

Roma thanks its youngsters. La Louve, led 2-0 at the home break, saved a point against Hellas Verona (2-2) thanks to two players under 20 entering the second half, Saturday during the 26th day of Serie A Cristian Volpato, 18, first reduced the mark by taking a corner kicked back by the Hellas defense three minutes after entering the game (65th). His first goal in the top flight for his second appearance.

Then Edoardo Bove, 19, entered in the 78th minute, snatched the equalizer with a shot close to the post after another corner struck by Jordan Veretout (84th), saving a point for this Roma deprived of several key elements ( Zaniolo, Mancini, Mkhitaryan).

Mourinho sees red

Hellas Verona paid in the last half hour for the enormous burst of energy in the first half when Roma had been stifled by an ultra-aggressive opponent. Igor Tudor’s team had opened the scoring after a good free kick combination repeated in training, thanks to their Czech leader Antonin Barak (5th), author of his 10th goal of the season. She had doubled the bet on a counter concluded in force by the French midfielder Adrien Tameze (20th).

This draw is the third in a row (after Genoa and Sassuolo) for Roma, struggling since the start of the year, and still seventh, six points from the last qualifying spot for the Champions League. A rhythm not really to the taste of José Mourinho who, for 90 minutes, often turned into a ball boy to return the ball to his players faster. And ended up returning to the locker room prematurely, excluded for an ironic gesture towards the referee while an opposing player was being treated.