Roma Claims Football at Fenway Trophy

(Photo: Chris Aduama/aduamaphotography.com)

BOSTON, Mass. – AS Roma emerged victorious thanks to a 90^th minute Marco Borriello shot and some help from a deflection off Daniel Agger to win the 2014 edition of Football at Fenway at historic Fenway Park in a sellout on Wednesday night.

The match was the first soccer game at Fenway Park since Roma defeated Liverpool 2-1 two years ago in the previous edition of Football at Fenway. Liverpool continues it’s preseason against Greek club Oympiacos on Sunday in Chicago, while Roma faces Manchester United in Denver on Saturday.

“It’s the second time we’ve been here in the last couple of years,” said Liverpool manager Brendan Rogers. “It was a great atmosphere. The support was great—the encouragement and support over the course of the evening—and I think it was both sets of supporters were fantastic and it made it, for a preseason game, it was a really, really good game.”

After both sides struggled to create chances early, Liverpool had the game’s first shot from a free kick on the left flank. Coutinho curled the set piece just wide of the far post.

Roma had the best chance of the first half in the 33^rd minute when new signing Ashley Cole got to the end line and sent a cross back towards the penalty spot. Legendary forward Francesco Totti was there and attempted to volley it on frame, but missed wide of the target.

The second half opened up a bit more and Liverpool had a great chance in the 56^th minute after Coutinho played Rickie Lambert into the left side of the box. Lambert hammered a shot on frame to the near post, but Roma ‘keeper Lukasz Skorupski was there to make the save.

Liverpool threatened again in the 63^rd minute through substitute Kristopher Peterson. Peterson drove into the left side of the box, but substitute keeper Bogdan Lobont was there to deny the shot at the near post.

Roma finally broke the deadlock in the 90^th minute.  Salih Ucan won the ball in Roma’s half and then played Antonio Sanabria down the right flank. Sanabria ran into the box and blasted a shot on frame, but Brad Jones made the save, knocking it out for a corner.

On the ensuing corner Stefno Perrinari found Marco Borriello, whose effort deflect off Agger twice, rolled through defender Jack Robinson’s legs and beat Jones inside the post, winning the game for Roma.