Bryan Cristante’s opener for Roma got cancelled out by Archie Brown, and the Giallorossi walked away from Istanbul with a 1-1 draw against Fenerbahce to kick off their Champions League campaign. This was a massive moment for Roma, back in the tournament after seven years and riding a wave of three straight Serie A victories. You know they wanted a full three points, especially with Lorenzo Pellegrini still sidelined and Devyne Rensch just making his return. What a way to jump back into the biggest club competition in Europe, even if it wasn’t the win they surely dreamed of.
Roma’s Dominance Meets Turkish Fire
The Italians looked sharp early, dominating possession and trying to dictate the pace. Paulo Dybala even tested Fenerbahce’s keeper Ederson with a stinging shot at the near post. But it was the home side that showed some teeth first, with a Kerem Akturkoglu counter-attack forcing a save from Mile Svilar. Just when you thought Fenerbahce might get something, Roma broke through. Donyell Malen, cutting in from the left, laid it off perfectly for Bryan Cristante. He drilled a right-footed shot through a sea of legs from the edge of the box, finding that far bottom corner. What a finish! They almost made it 2-0 moments later too, but Wesley fresh-aired a volley from 12 yards on a Dybala cross. Gotta bury those chances!
Greenwood’s Impact and VAR Drama
Fenerbahce, playing in their first Champions League proper game in 18 years, wasn’t going to roll over though. They equalized right at the start of the second half. Archie Brown sprung the offside trap, thanks to a smart, disguised pass from Mason Greenwood, and dinked a delicate finish over the on-rushing Svilar. Talk about an immediate impact from Greenwood, who chose the Turkish side over Roma this summer. You know that stung the Giallorossi a bit! Fenerbahce even threatened a second goal, with Svilar needing to rush off his line to deny Muriqi after an N’Golo Kante pass. Roma thought they had a penalty twice: once when Dybala felt a shirt tug from Milan Skriniar, and again on 68 minutes when Dybala was tripped by Kerim Aktarkoglu, but VAR showed the contact was just outside the area. Moments later, Wesley was also brought down just inches outside the box, and this time, no free kick at all. Romelu Lukaku came on for Roma and within 60 seconds set up an Oguz Aydin deflected effort that forced Svilar into a desperate, cat-like save.
What a wild Champions League opener! Roma earned a tough point on the road, but you gotta wonder what could have been with those near-misses and VAR calls. Fenerbahce showed they’re no pushover, especially with guys like Mason Greenwood making a difference right away. This 1-1 draw sets the stage for what promises to be an intense group stage, and both teams will be looking to build on this performance in their next match.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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