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Roma inflict late damage on brave Cork City

Updated / Wednesday, 2 Nov 2016 21:14
Cork's Aaron Drinan rises with Lorenzo Grossi of Roma
Cork's Aaron Drinan rises with Lorenzo Grossi of Roma

Cork City U19s 1-3 AS Roma U19s

Cork City U19s went toe-to-toe with their counterparts from AS Roma for much of their round of 16 clash in the UEFA Youth League at Turner’s Cross, only to concede two late goals and lose out 3-1 on the night.

The Leesiders went behind to a soft Davide Frattesi goal early in the game before Aaron Drinan levelled matters with a superb finish on 20 minutes.

The striker missed a penalty just after half time and despite exerting significant pressure on their opponents in the second half, goals from Edoardo Soleri and Filippo Franchi left the tie very much balanced in the favour of the Italians. The second leg of the tie will be played in Rome on 23 November.

The home side started well with Kevin Taylor’s break down the left allowing Alec Byrne muster an effort on goal; however, the final shot was well off target in the second minute.

Roma captain Soleri snuck in behind the City defence to almost chip goalkeeper David Coffey a minute later, before the early breakthrough came.

Despite setting the initial tempo, Cork found themselves behind with 10 minutes on the clock when Soleri, the cause of problems up front throughout, burst forward from midfield. His pass fed Frattesi, whose weak shot took a bobble to glide through the legs of the unlucky Coffey.

The crowd of 3,014 mostly Cork supporters left out an audible groan of disappointment but Stephen Bermingham’s team, to their credit, resumed their attack immediately.

The Italians took the ball off Drinan’s toe on 17 minutes as he was lining up to shoot and it was the City striker that would net the equalising goal three minutes later.

Cian Coleman picked up a loose ball in midfield and found Drinan with a superb ball. The frontman took a touch before launching a left-footed drive beyond the outstretched hand of Lorenzo Crisanto in the visitors’ goal.

Coffey redeemed himself with two top-class saves from hitman Marco Tumminello before midfielder Alessandro Bordin slapped a 35-yard effort off the Cork crossbar with 36 minutes gone.

Byrne still had time to curl another effort wide of the Roma post before an excellent first half of action drew to a close.

The second half was just five minutes old when the hosts were awarded a penalty kick. Drinan was fouled by Lorenzo Grossi in the area and Danish referee Jørgen Daugbjerg Burchardt immediately whistled and pointed to the spot.

After a considerable delay, including bookings for full-back Niccolo’ Tofanari and Soleri for dissent, Drinan stepped up to take the penalty kick but his low shot to the left was well saved by Crisanto.

The Roma net minder was tested again moments later but Conor McCarthy’s header, from another Taylor set piece, landed into his arms with little difficulty.

City’s centre-half blocked an effort from Soleri at the other end just by the hour mark before he had another header wide from a corner on 67 minutes.

Driven on by Byrne and Drinan in particular, City continued to press for a second and the home crowd roared for another penalty on 71 minutes when Drinan’s shirt was clearly held in the box. The referee had no interest on this occasion though, and play continued.

Crisanto gathered under pressure from Drinan as the game ticked into the final 10 minutes. The two teams then exchanged half chances courtesy of long-range efforts from Frattesi and then Daire O’Riordan, before substitute Riccardo Marchizza cleared a cross from Ogbene with Drinan lurking behind him.

The crucial goal came with four minutes remaining and very much against the run of play. Soleri’s shot was helplessly deflected into his own goal by Adam O’Sullivan, and the Italians emerged victorious when another substitute, Filippo Franchi, nabbed a third deep in injury time after Frattesi’s initial shot was denied.

Cork City FC: David Coffey; Kevin Taylor, Conor McCarthy, Adam O’Sullivan, Pierce Phillips; Denzil Fernandes, Alec Byrne, Cian Coleman (c), Chiedozie Ogbene; Daire O’Riordan, Aaron Drinan.

Substitutes: Adam Mylod, Ross Welch, Cian Leonard, Jordan O’Regan, Ronan Hurley, Thomas O’Donovan, William Armshaw.

AS Roma: Lorenzo Crisanto; Niccolo’ Tofanari, Stefano Ciavattini, Lorenzo Grossi, Luca Pellegrini (Mirko Antonucci ’81); Alessandro Bordin; Davide Frattesi, Emanuele Spinozzi (Riccardo Marchizza ’66), Sidy Keba Coly (Filippo Franchi ’85); Marco Tumminello, Edoardo Soleri (c).

Substitutes: Andrea Romagnoli, Andrea Marcucci, Lorenzo Valeau, Joseph Perfection Bouasse Ombiogno.

Referee: Jørgen Daugbjerg Burchardt (Denmark)

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