Thursday, March 09, 2006
Boro 1 Roma 0
It is highly debatable whether this was Boro's biggest game ever, or even of the Riverside era, but it was one of the most glamourous and most talked about. On a typical Teesside evening, with rain pouring down and a chill wind to worry the Italians, conditions could not have been more favourable for the home team. The pitch was almost a bog in midfield, but little attempt had been made to drain it, with the Roma boss moaning on about it not being right for a skilful game of football, but would turn the 90 minutes into a more physical battle.And so it was. Roma showing intermittently some lovely skill on and off the ball, but with Boro controlling the majority of the play from the back to the midfield. Everyone was up for this (and why not!) and it was a much more positive attitude than has sometimes been seen this season. Jimmy Floyd and the Yak shared honours up front, and it was through Jimmy's canny run and tumble that Yakubu got the chance to slot home a cool penalty past their young reserve keeper for the only goal of the night. Proving once again that on the big occasions we are a match for anyone.
I would be worried about the return leg, however, which is certain to be a completely different affair as they try to revert to a more flowing continental style and control the home advantage just as we did. A shame then that Mendieta couldn't widen the advantage from a through ball by sub Mark Viduka - a one on one with the keeper which he took way to long to hit. It is not impossible, though, that we could do to them what Benfica did to Liverpool earlier in the week: score an away goal early and leave them needing 3 to take the tie. A clean sheet tonight was a big bonus, and even though they may still be slight favourites back at the Olympic stadium, the nerves must surely be all theirs for the opening minutes and we need to capitalise on that.
last 8 of Uefa? Just maybe...
My MOTM: Lee Catermole - coming of age in leaps and bounds, with superb composure, grit and a nice touch tonight.
