Culio And Cluj Stun Roma

AS Roma 1-2 CFR Cluj

Two wonder strikes from Argentine midfielder Juan Culio was enough to cause an upset on Matchday One of the Champions League as CFR Cluj stunned Serie A giants AS Roma.

Champions League debutants CFR Cluj caused the first shock of the competition as Juan Culio’s stunning brace cancelled out Christian Panucci’s opener to claim a sensation triumph for the unheralded Romanians on their first ever appearance in Europe’s blue-ribbon tournament.

First Half

Both teams got the game off to a frenetic start, passing the ball around with great urgency in midfield but Roma quickly gained early control of proceedings and had the first crack at goal on eight minutes. Mirko Vucinic drilled in a freekick from 30 yards out but it sailed straight into the arms of Eduard Stancioiú in the Cluj goal.

But the visitors weren’t overwhelmed at the least on their Champions League debut as Emmanuel Koné responded with a shot of his own moments later but there wasn’t enough direction or flight on the ball to trouble Roma goalie, Doni.

Vucinic then had an excellent double chance to score within a space of minutes. First, he volleyed Cicinho’s cross just marginally wide of the left post, before hitting the right post after being put clean through on goal by Daniele De Rossi’s delightful 40 yard cross straight out from defence.

But on 17 minutes, the hosts were ahead. De Rossi robbed the ball off Juan Culio on the byline and curled in an inch-perfect cross to the middle and captain, Christian Panucci was there to lunge forward and thump his header into the back of the net.

Cluj charged forward looking for a quick reply and almost found one on 22 minutes when Dubarbier skipped past his marker and unleashed a left-footed missile but Doni was alert to the danger as he safely fisted the ball out over the bar.

The Romanians continued with their trend of long range shooting with Culio and then Alvaro Pereira trying their luck from 25 yards out but both attempts failed to test Doni.

But their persistence eventually paid off as Maurizio Trombetta’s side drew levelled in style on 27 minutes. Culio breezed past the Roman defence with the ball, played a sumptuous one-two with Eugen Trica on the edge of the box before rattling in a stinging low shot with his left foot to beat a hapless Doni.

The game settled into a balanced rhythm after that but the Giallorossi suddenly found themselves struggling with ideas in attack and it was Cluj who had the final scoring chance of the half five minutes from the break. Again it was on the counter as Culio sprang forward but selfishly went for the shot himself, which was blocked by Doni, instead of slipping the ball through to an unmarked Koné inside the box.

Second Half

The second period began with an early substitution by Luciano Spalletti after Panucci failed to shrug off a back injury during the break. Simone Loria was sent in but the new Roma backline failed to get up to speed in time and Cluj took advantage of that in the 49^th minute when they took a shock lead.

Trica chipped the ball into the box, which the Giallorossi defence failed to deal with as Cassetti’s poor headed clearance dropped kindly for Culio and the impressive Argentinean left fly with a brilliant left foot volley to leave Doni no chance.

Spalletti wasted no time in bringing on talisman, Francesco Totti, to a rapturous applause from the Olimpico faithful but it was Cluj who almost made it three. Gabriel Muresan curled in a freekick from 20 yards out but the shot did not have enough spin to whip back towards the target after swerving around the wall.

The home sides were clearly stunned and they struggle to respond. They could only create half-decent chances as Totti, De Rossi and Baptista all had a look-in but none of their efforts even bothered Stancioiu. If anything, it was Cluj who appeared likeliest to score next and they almost did too, in the 71^st minute.

Tony whipped in a cross from the right and found a completely unmarked and unchallenged Sixto Peralta but his glancing header came back off the bar.

Three minutes later, Roma at long last found a shot on target when Cicinho teed up De Rossi but the midfielder’s low and tame drive from 20 yards out was easily gathered by Stancioiu.

Culio almost got his hattrick ten minutes from time but his effort from a tight angle was covered by Doni. Minutes later, leftback Alvaro Pereira caused more panic in the Roma defence when he slalomed past three defenders towards the byline but his cutback was cleared by a desperate Giallorossi defence.

Roma’s last gasp attempt to salvage the game fell to Totti but his freekick failed to clear the wall as Cluj held on for a famous victory on their Champions League debut.

LINE-UPS

AS Roma (4-2-3-1): Doni – Cicinho, Cassetti, Panucci (Loria 47’), Riise (Totti 52’) – Aquilani, De Rossi – Taddei (Montella 77’), Baptista, Toneto – Vucinic

Unused subs: Artur, Menez, Brighi, Okaka Chuka

CFR Cluj (4-4-2): Stancioiú – Tony, Cadú, De Sousa, Alvaro Pereira – Trica (Peralta 66’), Dani, Muresan, Juan Culio – Koné, Dubarbier (Panin 88’)

Unused subs: Nuno Claro, Alcantara, Deac, Didi, Diego Ruiz

GOALS

1-0: AS Roma (Panucci 17’)

1-1: CFR Cluj (Culio 27’)

1-2: CFR Cluj (Culio 49’)

BOOKINGS

AS Roma: Cicinho (84’)

CFR Cluj: Pereira (8’), Peralta (90’+2)

MATCH STATS

Possession: AS Roma 56% – CFR Cluj 44%

Shots (On Target): AS Roma 16 (4) – CFR Cluj 16 (9)

Fouls Committed: AS Roma 8 – CFR Cluj 16