Job Done for Roma in 4-0 Win Over Virtus Entella

Roma now have 17 different scorers among the goals for this season, after they completed a 4-0 rout of Serie C’s Virtus Entella at the Olimpico tonight. The rain-soaked match was an opportunity for some Roma players to stake their claim before the January mercato window slams shut, and you’d have to say job done from everyone involved - including goalscorers Ivan Marcano, Javier Pastore and Patrik Schick.

Roma 1-0 - Patrik Schick (1st Minute)

Schick wouldn’t waste any time, as the Czech forward took just nineteen seconds to break the deadlock for 1-0. The move started with Kolarov receiving the ball straight from the kick off, before the Serb spread it across to Cengiz on the right flank. From then on, the Turkish winger danced his way into the box before shifting it onto his right foot and sliding the ball across the goal to Schick.

Roma’s number 14 took care of the rest with a flawless backheel goal - and backheels would be theme of the night from the Giallorossi.

Roma 2-0 - Ivan Marcano (45+2 Minutes 1st Half Extra Time)

Next came Ivan Marcano’s turn for a confidence boost in this Roma side. The Spanish centre back was subbed into the match early on, after Juan Jesus was stretchered off with a strapped knee. Truthfully, Marcano’s first defensive contribution to the match looked like he was going to be the man to let Entella back into the game at 1-0. But the Spaniard grew into the game on the ball and already had a headed goal disallowed for offside in the middle of the first half.

Finally, he got his reward from another set piece here. Credit must go to Rick Karsdorp for a beautifully calm and laser-guided pass into Schick, who once again flicked the ball behind him and into Marcano’s path for the assist.

Entella had put in a spirited performance in the opening 45 but Roma just did what Roma had to do, putting in some flicks and tricks to boot. To Entella’s credit, they brought a double save out of Robin Olsen in the half, and Justin Kluivert was having another 45 minutes in Italy learning how to deal with his opposing defender all over him like a rash.

Meanwhile, the performance from Lorenzo Pellegrini was subdued next to Bryan Cristante, who himself is growing as the fulcrum in this Roma side with every week that passes.

Second Half

Roma 3-0 - Patrik Schick (47th Minute)

Roma were once again quick-out-the-blocks in the second half here. Kluivert is found on the left wing before the Dutchman cuts in on his right, looks up and tries a ball across the face of the penalty box that may have been meant for Pellegrini. Instead it slides through to Schick, who doesn’t hesitate to bury it in the far corner with his left foot.

On the night, Schick was involved in closing down Entella’s defenders on the ball whenever he wasn’t helping to put the ball in the back of their net. More of this from Schick over the next few months and everyone will be happy.

Roma 4-0 - Javier Pastore (74th Minute)

Pastore was very slow to get into this game over 90 minutes. Both him and Pellegrini look some way short of full fitness. But here Flaco works to win a ball that Roma initially lost high up the pitch, before linking up with Justin Kluivert.

Kluivert draws two Entella defenders towards him in the hole, before taking another two out with his through ball into Pastore’s path. Flaco doesn’t hesitate to nestle the ball into the far corner and seal the 4-0 victory for Roma.

The rest of the game played out like a procession, with only Nicolo Zaniolo and Alessio Riccardi’s introduction into the match as notable events (along with Roma-born Simone Icardi coming on for Entella at the beginning of the half) before the referee blew the final whistle.

All in all, this was the result expected and delivered by Di Francesco’s side on the night. It was hard to single out any one player for praise over 90 minutes, but Roma continue their Coppa journey into the quarter finals. The Lupi will face Fiorentina in the last 8, while all the other big guns of the Serie A season take each other out elsewhere.