Second game into the new Serie A season, and second win for the much strengthened Roma squad. After Salernitana, it was Cremonese who tasted defeat, but the worrying thing for Jose Mourinho and the fans are the missed chances. This match, just like the one last week, ended with a 1-0 win, but the fact that Roma had 12 shots on goal and scored only once is a worry the Portuguese coach. He has a natural goalscorer in Tammy Abraham and brought in Paulo Dybala, and played first two games with inferior opponents but still managed to ‘just’ win.1-0 – Since José #Mourinho joined Roma, the Giallorossi have won eight league games 1-0, more than any other Serie A team in this period (2021/22 and 2022/23). Essential. #RomaCremonese pic.twitter.com/MeSnVgn85v— OptaPaolo 🏆 (@OptaPaolo) August 22, 2022 Cremonese is a newcomer in Serie A, and they allowed a ‘cheap’ goal due to inexperience, but had some good chances and even had more possession in Rome than the home team, which also happened to Mourinho in his first game against Salernitana. That is another reason for concern. The guests moved to much and too quickly over the midfield and the feeling is that against stronger teams, Roma’s missed chances and only one goal per game will not be enough even for the draw.Both teams “divided” activities in the first half: Roma had all the chances (7 shots on goal), while Cremonese had all the possession (54 possesion), but there were no goals. In the first half an hour, the home team, who played at a sell-out Olimpico stadium has some really good chances, but Cremonese goalie was firm and saved anything that came his way. First it was Pellegrini after only three minutes, then it was Abraham, then Zaniolo and then Spinazzola, but they either missed some easy shots or Radu was there to save it. Cremonese’s only chances came from their newly acquired striker from Feyeenord Cyriel Dessers, who had a couple of shots after an individual effort.🏟️ 𝟲𝟬,𝟴𝟱𝟵 An eighth-straight sell-out tonight (and the next one at the Olimpico is too…) FORZA ROMA! 💛❤️ #ASRoma #RomaCremonese pic.twitter.com/XE2oFQzCgo— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) August 22, 2022 It was Dessers with a first chance in the second half, but his shot ended up hitting the bar. Roma’s injury wows continued in this match too. After Wijnaldum broke the leg at the training ground, Roma’s most attractive youngster Nicolo Zaniolo dislocated his shoulder and had to come out. His replacement Stephan El Shaarawy had a wonderful chance in the second half, but hit the post, to the frustration of over 60000 fans at the stadium. Finally Cremonese defense cracked after a corner in the 65th minute, when they allowed Chris Smalling to stay totally alone in the goal area, and he easily headed to ball to the net: 1-0. As expected, Roma didn’t press the guests even more, and apart from a great Abraham shot (saved by Radu), didn’t show much, and after the 80th minute just looked to kill the game off.SERIE A – MATCHDAY 2Saturday Udinese – Salernitana 0-0Torino – Lazio 0-0Sassuolo – Lecce 1-0 (1-0)/Berardi 40/Inter – Spezia 3-0 (1-0)/Martinez 35, Calhanoglu 52, Correa 82/Sunday Empoli – Fiorentina 0-0Napoli – Monza 4-0 (1-0)/Kvaratskhelia 35, 62, Osimhen 45+2, Kim Min-jae 90+4/Atalanta – Milan 1-1 (1-0)/Malinovsky 29 – Bennacer 68/Bologna – Verona 1-1 (1-1)/Arnautovic 21 – Henry 43/Monday 19.30: (1.25) Roma (6.25) Cremonese (11.0)21.45: (6.00) Sampdoria (3.80) Juventus (1.60)***odds are subject to change
