AS Roma 1-4 Tottenham Hotspur
Now that’s a way to make light of your absentees!
SBOBET football fans thought this ICC 2018 encounter would be a close contest. In fact, the odds even slightly favoured Roma!
As Tottenham proved, however, you always have a chance when the likes of Fernando Llorente and Lucas Moura are among your back-ups.
Highlights of the game
The Spurs produced a blistering first half and scored four goals in the process, all this after going a goal behind to a Patrik Schick strike inside three minutes.
Within 15 minutes, Llorente had netted twice to turn around the ICC 2018 predictions and show why there is far more to come from the Spaniard than he displayed in his debut Spurs campaign.
And then Moura, whose £23 million arrival from Paris Saint Germain in January so excited Spurs fans, added two of his own to suggest his best in a Tottenham shirt is also yet to come.
Very quickly after Schick’s opener—which arrived after two minutes and 36 seconds to be precise—young Luke Amos’ shot was deflected into the air and landed in a perfect position for Llorente to fire a header beyond veteran Antonio Mirante in the Roma goal.
Amos was a former loanee at Stevenage and must have been thrilled at his involvement.
After Danish international Christian Eriksen struck a post, Llorente pounced again.
Mirante kept out a Moura effort from Erik Lamela’s delivery, but it only came out to the Spanish frontman who drilled home the rebound.
Spurs were in their stride from back to front and 28 minutes had elapsed when Moura got in on the act.
After a spell of Tottenham pressure, another former PSG man, Serge Aurier, crossed into the box and Moura sneaked in between the hesitant Roma defenders to power a header past Mirante—one of the best ICC 2018 highlights of the day.
Before half-time, Moura collected a rebound and fired into the bottom corner to end the game as a contest in San Diego.
There were changes galore in the second half, with new boy Justin Kluivert—son of Ajax and Dutch favourite Patrick—and one-time Man City man Edin Dzeko among those given a run-out.
Roma improved but the game was over as proven by half-hearted Mexican waves and Icelandic claps around the ground.
Spurs also finished with a teenager in nets—Paulo Gazzaniga equipping himself well.
It was indeed an encouraging start to pre-season for Spurs and Pochettino, despite their absences which include many resting after their World Cup efforts.
Perhaps the doubters should think twice when concerns were raised about their upcoming Premier League season.
Likewise, despite this defeat; the sale of goalkeeper Alisson for a world record fee; the departure of Belgian star Radja Nainggolan to Inter Milan; and the failure to scoop Malcom from Bordeaux, Roma have positives of their own.
Certainly, Eusebio Di Francesco will be excited to see how the likes of Kluivert and other new recruits, such as Javier Pastore and Robin Olsen, will settle in with the Giallorossi—even if it is difficult to imagine the side from the eternal city challenging reigning champions Juventus and possibly Napoli for the Serie A crown.
With the exception of one, all of their new signings are in the States and we can expect to see a lot more of Pastore, Kluivert, Mirante, Daniel Fuzato, Ivan Marcano, Davide Santon, William Bianda, Ante Coric and Bryan Cristante in the days ahead.
Key statistics
Spurs scored four times from their five shots on target in this match.
There was no question both sides were weakened, with usual left-back Ben Davies deployed at the heart of central defence alongside 20-year-old American Cameron Carter-Vickers and 21-year-old Amos partnered with Moussa Sissoko in midfield.
This was Schick’s fifth goal in three pre-season matches and is obviously determined to make his mark in the new campaign.
There were fewer than 19,000 spectators inside the SDCCU Stadium which has a 70,000 capacity.
One of the biggest cheers of the night arrived when Son Heung-min replaced Lamela, thanks to a good South Korean contingent in the crowd.
What’s next?
The Spurs are up against reigning La Liga champions Barcelona this Sunday for their second game in the tournament.
Meanwhile, Roma will have almost a week-long rest before they take on Barca as well at the AT&T stadium in Texas. For everyone’s information, the Roma-Barca clash is a repeat of last season’s Champions League quarter-final that saw the Italians stun the Catalans in thrilling fashion.
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