Roma through after drab draw at Cluj
442 Staff - Wednesday 08 December 2010, 23:28
CLUJ - AS Roma secured their place
in the last 16 of the Champions League on Wednesday with a 1-1
draw against Romania's CFR Cluj in a drab Group E encounter.
The Serie A side needed only a point to finish second in the
group behind Bayern Munich and did not waste much effort in a
lacklustre performance at Cluj, converting only one of just
three clear scoring chances.
Striker Marco Borriello beat the offside trap in the 21st
minute, taking a neat through ball from veteran playmaker
Francesco Totti into the penalty area and placing a low shot
into the net.
Cluj striker Lacina Traore, who looked uninspired most of
the game, equalised one minute before the end with a close-range
header past goalkeeper Bogdan Lobont, a last minute substitute
for Julio Sergio before the match.
Roma dominated the first 30 minutes but Cluj got back into
the game at the end of the first half and Lobont had to make a
brave save against a close-range volley by striker Roberto De
Zerbi.
Left-winger Juan Culio then sent a powerful shot inches over
the bar 15 minutes into the second half, while Totti and
Borriello missed their shots from tight angles in the last half
hour.
It was the first Champions League game for caretaker Cluj
coach Alin Minteuan, who replaced Sorin Cartu after he smashed
up the dugout during the 1-0 away defeat to Basel.
The match was low key, with Cluj already out of the
competition and Roma confident at half time that a clear
advantage for group leaders Bayern Munich at home against Basel
would see them through without effort.