A first half header from winger Matias Soule, followed by a Lorenzo Pellegrini finish put the Italian side in control at the break. The Gers improved in the second half, but were unable to mount a fightback as they still await their first points in this year’s competition.
Rangers headed into the evening looking to get off the mark in the Europa League this season in Danny Röhl’s home European bow. The Head Coach named four changes to his side from their weekend outing, with Max Aarons, Connor Barron, Mikey Moore and Djeidi Gassama all coming into the team.
The hosts looked to come out of the traps quickly under the Ibrox lights. Matching up in a similar system to their Italian visitors, they looked to get on the front foot from the get-go. Mikey Moore, who had been in a purple patch of form of late, was first to threaten, he cut inside off the left and looked to pick out his teammate Youssef Chermiti inside the area, but it was Gianluca Mancini that reacted first to clear the danger.
It was a goalless opening 10 minutes in Govan. Both teams were having their spells of possession, without either goalkeeper being tested in the early parts of the contest, with set pieces proving to be the early tester for both defences.
Thereafter, it was the visitors who made it count from a corner to break the deadlock, as Matias Soule got the final touch at the back post to head AS Roma in front. Following a delivery from Lorenzo Pellegrini, captain Bryan Cristante made the decisive flick at the front post as the winger popped up in the right place to head beyond Jack Butland and into the net.
Röhl’s men looked for a quick response and had their best opening in the early stages through Chermiti. A long hopeful ball from John Souttar saw Kostas Tsimikas and Mario Hermoso get in a mix up and allow the striker to get in behind, but his effort flashed just wide of Mile Svilar’s right hand post.
Goalscorer Soule was next to test Butland as he looked to double himself and his sides advantage. Most of his own work, he cut inside off the right and tried his luck at the near post, but the effort was beaten away by the Rangers shot stopper.
Having gone in front, the visitors seemed in control of proceedings without really threatening to pull further ahead. They looked to get joy down the sides with the likes of Soule and Pellegrini, with the Gers having to stay alert and be patient in trying to get forward themselves.
After a period of possession, it was the Italian visitors who doubled their advantage in Govan. A long ball from defence from Gianluca Mancini was well brought down by striker Artem Dovbyk, he held it up well and rolled in Pellegrini, who showed composure to finish it off in the corner.
Up against it and looking for encouragement, the Gers almost got it. After good work from Gassama down the right he laid the ball across looking for Moore, but after playing his part in creating the second for his team he prevented his side conceding as Mancini put his body on the line to deny the Spurs loanee from close range.
Roma threatened to go further ahead on the break. After the home faithful thought Gassama had been fouled high up the pitch, the Italians broke quickly. Pellegrini involved again found his frontman in Dovbyk, he was held up well by Souttar before Soule again went close with a curling effort in the last of the first half action with the visitors two to the good.
Half time substitute Thelo Aasgaard looked to make an immediate impact after replacing Jayden Meghoma. Popping up in the number 10 position inside the final third, he slipped in Chermiti, but the forward’s shot was blocked by the sliding Hermoso.
Despite being up against it, Rangers still looked to offer an attacking threat and half the deficit in Glasgow. Aarons, who was now operating off the left, played in Moore who made inroads towards goal, but his effort left Svilar untroubled.
Aarons was showing signs of promise as he again was involved which led to Chermiti being played in, but the striker’s left footed effort could only find the side netting. As the Head Coach then turned to Danilo and Mohamed Diomande to try plot a route back into the game.
Moore and Aasgaard then linked up to have Rangers next effort goalwards. The latter got himself inside the box and worked the ball onto his right foot at the angle to strike at goal, but his effort was dragged just wide of Svilar’s right hand post.
Roma went close to a third and finishing the game off. A ball across from Tsimikas was almost bundled over the line, but from an intervention from Connor Barron and help from the crossbar from a Rangers perspective.
Despite showing signs of improvement in the second period, the Gers ultimately left themselves with too much to do, as they still await their first points in their year’s Europa League and now turn attention to their final fixture before the international break at Dens Park on Sunday.
RANGERS: Butland, Djiga, Souttar, Tavernier, Aarons, Barron, Raskin (Diomande, 61), Meghoma (Aasgaard, 45), Moore (Curtis, 81), Gassama (Danilo, 61), Chermiti (Miovski, 72)
SUBS: Kelly, Wright, Cornelius, Fernandez, Rice, Cameron, Antman
AS ROMA: Svilar, Cristante, N’Dicka, Pellegrini (Kone, 66), El Aynaoui, Dovbyk (Pisilli, 86), Tsimikas (Rensch, 72), Soule (El Shaarawy, 66), Celik (Franca, 72), Hermoso, Mancini
SUBS: De Marzi, Gollini, Ziolkowski, Romano, Ghilardi