Paulo Dybala came off the bench and broke the defences of 10-man HJK Helsinki, who capitulated 3-0 including Lorenzo Pellegrini and Andrea Belotti’s first goal for Roma.

The Giallorossi were looking to get off the mark after a 2-1 defeat to Ludogorets, boosted by the return of Nicolò Zaniolo after almost a month out with a dislocated shoulder. HJK lost their opener 2-0 at home to Real Betis in this group.

Helsinki captain Miro Tenho was sent off after just 14 minutes, as first he was booked for the bodycheck on Andrea Belotti, then it was changed to a red following the VAR on-field review. Last man is no longer the criteria, but Il Gallo was going clear on goal through the centre, so it was considered a clear scoring opportunity.

Belotti pulled back from the by-line for Zaniolo to flick it across the face of goal, but the 10 men of HJK almost took the lead when Arttu Hoskonen was allowed a free header that thumped the upright.

Lorenzo Pellegrini turned wide after the initial Zaniolo attempt was charged down, then Zaniolo fired straight at the goalkeeper on a smart Belotti through ball.

There was a double chance before the break, as first Bryan Cristante’s scorcher was beaten away, then the resulting corner was flicked on for Belotti to nod wide at the back post.

Dybala and Chris Smalling came on at half-time and La Joya made an immediate impact, scoring with his first touch. Spinazzola found Pellegrini for a quick lay-off and Dybala swept in with his left foot first-time from the edge of the area.

Moments later, Zaniolo ran onto a long Nemanja Matic pass, his attempted roll across from the left took a big deflection off Soiri and Pellegrini was alert to bundle it over the line with his chest.

Zaniolo should’ve been on the scoresheet, but prodded wide when sent clear by an inspired Dybala slide-rule pass.

Matic stung the goalkeeper’s gloves and Belotti made it 3-0 with a tap-in from six yards on the Zaniolo pull-back from the by-line, his first goal for Roma.

Roma 3-0 HJK

Dybala 47 (R), Pellegrini 49 (R), Belotti 68 (R)

Sent off: Tenho 14 (H)

One thought on “Europa League | Roma 3-0 HJK: Dybala and Belotti breakthrough”
  1. Should’ve been 6, good performance overall. I feel we played stronger opposition in Conference last year!

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