Sunderland 0 Roma 2: Story of the day as Alex Neil's side are beaten in pre-season friendly
and live on Freeview channel 276
After a goalless first half, substitutes Felix Afena-Gyan and Nicolo Zaniolo were on target for the Italian side after the break.
Sunderland will now prepare to return to Wearside before travelling to Dundee United for their next pre-season fixture on Saturday.
Here’s how the game played out.
The Sunderland Echo's coverage of SAFC in Portugal is brought to you in association with Flex Joinery. Visit www.flexjoinery.co.uk for further details.
LIVE: Sunderland vs Roma
Key Events
- Sunderland fall to 2-0 defeat to AS Roma in Albufeira
- SAFC XI: Patterson; Gooch, Winchester, Batth, Cirkin; O’Nien, Matete; Dajaku, Embleton, Diamond; Clarke
- Subs: Hume, Kelly, Johnson, Ballard, Evans, Roberts, Neil, Carney, Pritchard, Spellman, Taylor, Sohna, Richardson
- Substitutes Afena-Gyan and Zaniolo with the second-half goals for Jose Mourinho’s side.
Phil Smith in Portugal
The Sunderland Echo’s coverage of SAFC in Portugal is brought to you in association with Flex Joinery. Visit www.flexjoinery.co.uk for further details.
Closing stages
Roma just holding on to the ball now, lots of valuable running for the Sunderland players....
Frustrating!
Pritch does well to spring Ellis Taylor clear at the byline but there’s no one for him to really hit in the box and Roma can clear.
Roma dominating
Zaniolo playng the false nine role to protection - Sunderland are leggy and they just can’t pick him up.
GOALLLL ROMA
They’re showing their class now.
Think Afena-Gyan may have been just offside there, but he crosses for Zaniolo who scores. Sunderland look tired, and a young Roma side look superb.
GOALLLL ROMA
It’s been coming.
Sunderland lose the ball and it’s a brilliant counter. Darboe drives to the edge of the box., Afena-Gyan has pulled into that space again and this time buries it.
Pritchard and Roberts on for Sunderland now - Dajaku and Diamond off.
Outrageous.
Zaniolo cuts inside an unfurls a stunning effort, one that smashes off the inside of the post and rolls across goal. Somehow doesn’t go in,
That was serious technique.