FK Astra Giurgiu

      FK Astra Giurgiu

      SOCCER

        AS Roma 4-0 FK Astra Giurgiu

        Francesco Totti capped a memorable week with three assists as Roma thrashed Astra Giurgiu 4-0 in Group E of the Europa League. The experienced playmaker, who scored his 250th Serie A goal on Sunday and turned 40 on Tuesday, teed-up Kevin Strootman for the early opener before his thunderous free-kick came back off the crossbar for Federico Fazio to head the second in first-half stoppage-time. Fabricio Dornellas' own goal made it three early in the second period and Mohamed Salah volleyed in Totti's chipped through ball shortly afterwards. Romanian champions Astra had the first chance of the night when Viorel Nicoara was played through on goal by former West Brom and Barnsley man Filipe Teixeira before being denied by Roma's Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson. The hosts, who drew their opening game of the competition against Viktoria Plzen, were strong favourites for the tie and they took the lead in the 15th minute as Dutch midfielder Strootman volleyed in at the back post following a right-wing free-kick from captain Totti. The game was being played at a pedestrian pace in front of a sparsely-populated stadium and it seemed only a matter of time before the Serie A club turned their dominance into further goals. Egyptian winger Salah came close to adding a second 11 minutes prior to half-time when he raced clear on the right of the penalty box from Totti's clever flick only to be see his low shot turned away by the legs of goalkeeper Silviu Lung Jr. Totti then played a significant role in Roma's second, smashing a vicious free-kick towards the top right-corner which was pushed onto the crossbar by Lung Jr before Argentinian defender Fazio glanced in the rebound to claim his first goal for the club. The points were sealed two minutes after the restart when Brazilian defender Dornellas inexplicably sliced into his own net after Diego Perotti beat Vlatko Lazic on the left and cut the ball back. Luciano Spalletti had named a strong side for the game following the weekend defeat to Torino and he saw his side go further in front thanks to Salah's fine first-time finish from Totti's delightful ball over the Astra backline. Denis Alibec threatened to pull one back nine minutes from time but his powerful left-footed effort was pushed away by Alisson as the Romanians slipped to a second successive European defeat.
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