ROTTERDAM--Mats Wieffer scored the winner to earn hosts Feyenoord Rotterdam a 1-0 home victory over AS Roma in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final on Thursday, after he had given away a first-half penalty. Wieffer struck a bouncing half volley from outside the box in the 53rd minute to give the Dutch league leaders a narrow advantage to take into the return leg in the Italian capital.
Justin Bijlow returned to the Feyenoord side for the first time in two months after a wrist injury. Alireza Jahanbaksch also returned to the side. The Iranian winger went off injured in the warming up before the match against RKC Waalwijk last Sunday. Ex-Feyenoord midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum started on the bench for the Italian opponents. The fixture was a repeat of last season’s UEFA Conference League final, which Roma won 1-0. The first half was as expected from a Jose Mourinho side. Roma sat back with Feyenoord only able to create a few opportunities. Polish midfielder Sebastian Szymanski had two attempts, one being blocked, and the other dragging wide even though Oussama Idrissi was free on the wing. AS Roma was given a penalty right before half time. A corner hit Mats Wieffer on the hand, with referee Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez pointing to the spot instantly. It seemed a harsh decision as Wieffer had his hands next to his body and could not do much about the ball hitting his hand. Roma captain Lorenzo Pellegrini took the spot kick but hit the post as the crowd in De Kuip stadium cheered. Wijnaldum came on for Roma at half time, but saw his side go a goal down after 53 minutes. Idrissi dribbled past Nicola Zalewski with ease, before chipping the ball to the edge of the penalty box where Wieffer was waiting. The 23-year-old volleyed the ball towards the ground, surprising Rui Patricio in the Roma goal, as the ball went past him into the net. Roma seemed the fitter of the two sides as they pushed for an equaliser, with Feyenoord mainly sitting back for the last half an hour. Idrissi was vital for his side again as he reacted quickly enough to head Roger Ibanez’s header off the line. Mourinho’s side kept the pressure on, but without forwards Paolo Dybala and Tammy Abraham, who had both gone off injured earlier in the match, they struggled to create meaningful chances. The second leg will be played in Stadio Olimpico in Rome next week.
