Roma followed up their embarrassing Derby loss from last Friday with an even more humiliating display this evening at the Stadio Olimpico as they were defeated 4-2 by Spezia and eliminated from the Coppa Italia.
The Giallorossi were in complete meltdown mode against the Ligurians, who jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first half. After drawing level in the second half, Spanish attacker Borja Mayoral missed two point-blank opportunities to grab a victory for the capital club — chances that would ultimately come back to haunt them.
Not long thereafter, defender Gianluca Mancini and goalkeeper Pau Lopez both saw red and handed Spezia a two man advantage.
As the match went into extra time, the Giallorossi conceded two goals, one of which was scored by former attacker Daniele Verde, while manager Paulo Fonseca mistakenly used a sixth substitute in the match.
“We’ll have time to discuss the problem internally, if there is a problem,” answered Fonseca when asked about the sixth substitution by Rai.
“We missed so many goalscoring chances this evening. Once we went down to nine men, though, it was difficult. We created so many chances tonight, today had nothing to do with the system.”
When asked if this result could cost him his job, the Portuguese tactician didn’t seem too worried.
“I’ve been under discussion since the first day I got here. In the league, I’m in the position where I’d want for us to be. I’m always put into question when I don’t win, but I have to focus on my job.”