Goal of the day: Kevin Strootman (Roma) vs Napoli
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Kevin Strootman scored with a remarkable strike for AS Roma en route to a 3-2 win over Napoli in the first leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday.
Roma broke the deadlock in the 13th minute when Gervinho ran onto a delightful through-ball from Francesco Totti and rounded goalkeeper Pepe Reina before firing home.
The Giallorossi then doubled the lead on the half-hour mark in stunning fashion.
Strootman took advantage of the free space before unleashing a fierce left-foot effort from 30 yards.
There was not much Reina could do to stop the bullet as the ball flew into the top corner.
Napoli regrouped over the break, though, with Gonzalo Higuaín halving the deficit shortly after the interval and substitute Dries Mertens levelling on 70 minutes, four minutes after coming off the bench.
Then, with time running out, Gervinho secured the match for Roma when he collected Alessandro Florenzi's pass and coolly slotted the ball home.
Roma coach Rudi Garcia told Rai Sport: "We call Strootman the Washing Machine. We know when the team is in trouble, you give the ball to Kevin and even if it’s a bad pass, he cleans up the mess."
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| AS Roma player Kevin Strootman shoots to score his team's second goal against Napoli Photo: Getty Images |
Roma broke the deadlock in the 13th minute when Gervinho ran onto a delightful through-ball from Francesco Totti and rounded goalkeeper Pepe Reina before firing home.
The Giallorossi then doubled the lead on the half-hour mark in stunning fashion.
Strootman took advantage of the free space before unleashing a fierce left-foot effort from 30 yards.
There was not much Reina could do to stop the bullet as the ball flew into the top corner.
Napoli regrouped over the break, though, with Gonzalo Higuaín halving the deficit shortly after the interval and substitute Dries Mertens levelling on 70 minutes, four minutes after coming off the bench.
Then, with time running out, Gervinho secured the match for Roma when he collected Alessandro Florenzi's pass and coolly slotted the ball home.
Roma coach Rudi Garcia told Rai Sport: "We call Strootman the Washing Machine. We know when the team is in trouble, you give the ball to Kevin and even if it’s a bad pass, he cleans up the mess."
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