Two goals from an in-form Gervinho, including the winner two minutes from time, gave AS Roma a thrilling 3-2 victory in their Coppa Italia semi-final first leg against SSC Napoli at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday.
The Ivorian’s goals helped Roma to their sixth straight win and handed Rudi Garcia’s side a slender lead to take into next week’s second leg after visiting Napoli rallied to level from 2-0 down.
A comical Morgan De Sanctis own-goal just after the break and a smart Dries Mertens strike saw Rafael Benitez’s gritty side fight back after Gervinho and a rocket shot by Kevin Strootman put the home team on top at halftime.
Photo: EPA
“Starting the second half in such a farcical fashion didn’t do us any good mentally, but we responded really well and won a really difficult match,” Roma midfielder Daniele de Rossi said.
Roma are finally living up to their promise after years of fallouts and mishaps on the pitch and behind the scenes, and could win their 10th Coppa this year.
“The last two years we’ve had really good sides with brilliant players, but we were lacking mental toughness and that’s what all of us players here have tried to help create and develop,” De Rossi added.
Photo: EPA
Gervinho gave the hosts the lead when he latched on to a phenomenal Francesco Totti through-ball and delicately lifted the ball over Pepe Reina before rolling home into an empty net.
Strootman then drove home Roma’s advantage with an unstoppable strike, only for De Sanctis to hand Napoli a lifeline when he let Gonzalo Higuain’s deflected cross slip through his fingers and creep over the line.
Belgium international Mertens then leveled the match and, with two away-goals, put his side into a commanding position in the tie when he burst past the Roma defense and emphatically shot over a prone De Sanctis with 20 minutes remaining.
However, Gervinho sparked wild celebrations among the Giallorossi’s supporters with his dramatic second, which he slotted home at Reina’s near post after a sweeping passing move, giving his side a slight advantage going into a potentially explosive second leg.
“He can still get better,” Garcia said after the former Arsenal striker took his tally of goals to four since the turn of the year.
“He needs the faith of his manager and above all his teammates because when he gets the ball he’s always looking to cause problems to the opposition,” Garcia added.
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