It was an emotional night for 19-year-old Niccolò Pisilli, who scored his first goal for his hometown club and burst into tears. ‘I never could’ve imagined this moment. I am a lifelong Roma fan.’
The midfielder came off the bench in the Europa League group stage match with Sheriff Tiraspol at the Stadio Olimpico and completed the 3-0 rout with practically the last kick of the game.
He met the Romelu Lukaku assist and saw the low finish from the edge of the box take a deflection into the far bottom corner.
The look on Pisilli’s face said it all, as he went through astonishment to celebration to tears of joy.
“Scoring in this stadium, with this jersey, I never could’ve imagined this moment,” he told Sky Sport Italia.
“The Roma fans are special, everyone know that, and I am a lifelong Roma fan. I just tried to do what I always do, because if you step onto the field with fear, that’s the worst.”
Jose Mourinho gave Pisilli his senior debut in Serie A for the 2-0 defeat to Inter in May, but this was his first appearance in the Europa League and his first goal.
“The coach told me to stay calm and I hope I achieved that. Working with him every day is incredible. He doesn’t need any introduction and it is an honour to work with him.”
Mourinho even said in his post-match interview that he had to leave the field after the final whistle to avoid being moved to tears as well by Pisilli’s reaction.
The Roma youth academy is made up primarily of local kids who grew up supporting the squad from the stands.
“I started at Roma at the age of 9, so it’s been 10 years that I’ve grown up here. The club is like a second family, that is what Roma means for me.”