AS Roma 2 Shakhtar Donetsk 3:KNOCK-OUT round debutants Shakhtar Donetsk delivered an upset win at out-of-form AS Roma in last night's Champions League first leg, putting coach Claudio Ranieri under increased pressure.
Roma took the lead in the 28th minute when midfielder Simone Perrotta headed in a cross from Rodrigo Taddei off Razvan Rat, but fans had little time to savour the goal as Shakhtar equalised a minute later through Jadson’s fortunate deflection.
The Ukrainians, who looked fresh despite not having played a competitive match in more than two months, then seized control of the match with a lovely, curling shot from just outside the area by Douglas Costa on 36 minutes.
Luiz Adriano slotted in the visitors’ third before half-time, capitalising on a slip-up by Roma defender John Arne Riise that summed up their frustrating evening, before Jeremy Menez superbly netted for the hosts after the break.
Roma players walked off at half-time to loud boos from an angry crowd at the Stadio Olimpico and the defeat piles pressure on Ranieri.
Last season’s Italian runners-up are in eighth spot after three games without a win in Serie A and fans have even protested during training.
ROMA: Doni, Cassetti, Nicolas Burdisso, Mexes, Riise (Castellini 46), Taddei, De Rossi, Perrotta, Totti, Menez, Vucinic (Borriello 68). Subs not used: Lobont, Juan, Greco, Simplicio, Brighi. Booked: Cassetti, Menez, Perrotta. Goals: Perrotta 28, Menez 61.
SHAKHTAR DONETSK: Pyatov, Srna, Chygrynskiy, Rakitskiy, Rat, Mkhitaryan (Vitsenets 79), Hubschman, Douglas Costa (Eduardo 66), Jadson (Alex Teixeira 85), Willian , Luiz Adriano. Subs not used: Khudzamov, Stepanenko, Ischenko, Chyzhov. Booked: Chygrynskiy, Luiz Adriano, Rakitskiy, Pyatov. Goals: Jadson 29, Douglas Costa 36, Luiz Adriano 41.
Referee: Olegario Benquerenca(Portugal).
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