Roma suffered an unlucky last-gasp 2-1 defeat to Chelsea after Erik Lamela had put them in front.
Their American tours concluded in Washington DC with a high-profile friendly clash. It was a special occasion for Eden Hazard, who grew up in Roma Coach Rudi Garcia’s Lille side.
Roma suffered an unlucky last-gasp 2-1 defeat to Chelsea after Erik Lamela had put them in front.
Their American tours concluded in Washington DC with a high-profile friendly clash. It was a special occasion for Eden Hazard, who grew up in Roma Coach Rudi Garcia’s Lille side.
Morgan De Sanctis was in goal and immediately had to be alert on Michael Essien’s volley, but it was the Giallorossi who took the lead.
It was chaos in the Chelsea defence, as Mark Schwarzer failed to control a backpass, it ricocheted off the upright and Lamela pounced to tap into an empty net.
Schwarzer also spilled a Pablo Daniel Osvaldo angled drive, but was able to smother it eventually.
Former Napoli goalkeeper De Sanctis may be 36 years old, but he has sharp reflexes and got down well to turn away a John Terry header from a corner.
Frank Lampard drew Chelsea level on the hour mark when allowed far too much space to roam forward from his own half and beat De Sanctis with a precise finish.
Osvaldo’s header forced another spectacular save from Chelsea, but Jose Mourinho’s men snatched a last-gasp victory.
Hazard got to the byline and pulled back for Demba Ba, who laid it off for Romelu Lukaku’s deflected winner. Chelsea won 2-1, but Roma thoroughly impressed in Washington DC.
Roma 1-2 Chelsea
Scorers: Lamela 21 (R), Lampard 61 (C), Lukaku 89 (C)
Roma: De Sanctis; Maicon (Jedvaj 78), Benatia, Castan, Balzaretti; Bradley, Strootman, Florenzi (Marquinho 70); Lamela, Osvaldo (Borriello 70), Totti
Chelsea: Schwarzer (Blackman 46); Azpilicueta (Ivanovic 57), David Luiz (Cahill 46), Terry (Lukaku 78), Bertrand; Essien (Lampard 46), Mikel (Van Ginkel 57); Moses (Ramires 46), De Bruyne (Oscar 46), Schurrle (Hazard 57); Torres (Demba Ba 46)