AS Roma finished their Serie A campaign in style with a 3-0 victory over Torino, snapping a five-game domestic winless streak to guarantee UEFA Europa League (UEL) qualification for the ‘Giallorossi’.
With a European final looming, Roma still needed a win to guarantee their place at the European table next term. The opening half-hour was void of fireworks however, with an Andrea Belotti shot fizzing over the bar signaling the only attacking threat. Only minutes later, Tammy Abraham opened the scoring with a superb solo run and finish for his 16th of the league campaign. To add to the Roman delight, with that goal Abraham equalled the all time Serie A single season scoring record for an Englishman, a record which previously stood for 60 years.
To make matters worse for the hosts, Abraham nipped in to win the ball in the box and was taken down by the sliding challenge of Etrit Berisha, forcing the referee to award the capital side a penalty. Abraham stepped up and dispatched the spot-kick to break the scoring record, and put the visitors two goals ahead at the break.
The second half provided less individual brilliance, as the ‘Giallorossi’ aimed to conserve their energy ahead of their UEFA Europe Conference League final showdown next week. Lorenzo Pellegrini dispatched Roma’s second penalty-kick of the night after Alessandro Buongiorno fouled Nicolò Zaniolo in the box with just over 10 minutes remaining. A three-goal cushion allowed José Mourinho’s men to coast over the line, ensuring a top-six finish in the Portuguese’s first season at the helm.
Despite pre-season expectations that Torino could find themselves in a relegation scrap, a mid-table finish will be celebrated in Turin. However, some wind will be let out of the club’s sails as they finish the campaign by conceding three goals at home for the first time all season.
