Hellas Verona 1-1 Roma: Giallorossi held by hard-working Mastini

Date: 22nd August 2015 at 7:59pm
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Roma to a 1-1 draw in the first game of the 2015-16 Serie A season at the Stadio Bentegodi on Saturday evening.

Bosko Jankovic gave the hosts the lead in the second half but his strike was cancelled out by a long-range effort from Alessandro Florenzi.

Verona looked positive in the very early stages of the game and Juanito spurned a good opportunity in the second minute, snatching at a chance after finding himself completely free on the left side of the penalty area.

The first real shot on target arrived in the 23rd minute when the ball broke to Radja Nainggolan on the edge of the penalty area but his left-footed effort was easily smothered by Rafael in the home goal.

In the 41st minute Verona were almost rewarded for their hard work when Jankovic’s header from a corner was cleared off the line by Daniele De Rossi.

Roma continued to struggle to break down Andrea Mandorlini’s well-organised outfit and hard work from the likes of Emil Hallfredsson was really limiting the creative potential of their opponents.

The first chance of the second half came from a Kostas Manolas header who met the ball well from a corner but was unable to trouble the Gialloblu’s Rafael.

Hallfredsson was continuing to look impressive and almost broke the deadlock on 56 minutes when he robbed Manolas on the edge of the visitors’ penalty area but his strong shot was well saved by Wojciech Szczesny.

Verona did end up opening the scoring on 61 minutes and it was Hallfredsson who provided an excellent assist, crossing from the left for Jankovic to finish at the back post and make it 1-0.

The lead didn’t last long however as Florenzi fired in a right-footed shot from 25 yards in the 67th minute to level the scores.

Roma pressed for a winner but found Rafael in the Verona goal to be in good form.

The draw means expected title contenders Roma drop two points from their first game of the 2015-16 Serie A season.

 

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