As the Europa League rolls on, we had a thrilling encounter on Thursday that saw Union and AS Roma share the spoils at the Stade Roi Baudouin in Brussels, igniting a mix of joy and frustration in the stands, and possibly in the players’ homes afterwards as well. The game ended 1-1, courtesy of a late equalizer from Kevin Mac Allister, who swooped in like a seagull over a French fry to score in the 77th minute, ensuring the Union claimed their second point in the standings—yes, only two points, which might make you question if they’ve been playing football or just standing around in a very large circle.
Now, let’s talk tactics! Sébastien Pocognoli threw us a curveball by starting Ross Sykes instead of the expected Rasmussen. If you’re scoring at home, that’s one surprise for the Union fans, and they were probably still trying to figure out the implications of that decision when Gianluca Mancini opened the scoring for Roma in the 62nd minute. Pocognoli evidently decided four central defenders were better than three… or perhaps they were just going for ‘Fortress Brussels’—a bit of a stronghold approach, but in football, you’ve got to bring some drama to the pitch!
On the other side, Ivan Juric also had his surprises—Bryan Cristante stepped in for Mats Hummels, which raises the question: was Hummels busy shopping for loafers, or was it merely a tactical decision? Also, who needs a fast attack when you can have the likes of Stephan El Shaarawy and Eldor Shomurodov play up front? Well, judging by the piercing pain of a shot hitting the post from Tommaso Baldanzi in the 51st, perhaps being fast and furious wasn’t the strategy after all!
As for the gameplay, let’s just say it was a bit of a ballet gone wrong! Both teams were floundering around like they’d lost their dance partners. The Union was a touch more daring at the start with some near misses, especially Anan Khalaili, who had a chance early on to score but probably thought he was still warming up. Meanwhile, Shourodov tried to leave his own mark—by delivering a slightly inappropriate ‘heel-to-ankle’ move on Ousseynou Niang, earning himself an early yellow card. It’s football, not a wrestling match, mate!
With Mancini’s header giving Roma the lead, you’d think the Union might finally shrug off their lethargy and get into the game, perhaps grab a cheeky latte in the process. Moris in goal for Union looked like he’d anticipated a tea party rather than a header when Mancini took his chance. Alas, just when we thought it could be curtains for the Union, Mac Allister sauntered in off the bench and delivered a header from a corner that would make even the harshest of critics nod in approval—absolutely worth breaking into a dance. And I dare say, the guy’s hair must have been perfectly coiffed for the occasion!
Despite the dual malaise of not winning outright, both teams now inch onwards in the league and European Cup, leaving us fans clutching our hearts, wallets, and perhaps a pint in solidarity with our valiant, if somewhat confused, warriors on the pitch. Here’s hoping for more joyous chaos and less tactical bafflement in the next match!
By sharing 1-1 thanks to a goal from Kevin Mac Allister (77th) with AS Roma during the 4th day of the Europa League, Thursday at the Stade Roi Baudouin in Brussels, the Union scored its 2nd point in the standings . The Giallorossi, who opened the scoring with Gianluca Mancini (62nd), have 5 and are temporarily in the top 24.
Sébastien Pocognoli had a surprise by starting Ross Sykes and not Rasmussen. With Christian Burgess, Koki Machida and Mac Allister, the Unionist coach has lined up four central defenders. Ivan Juric preferred Bryan Cristante to Mats Hummels to replace Evan Ndicka in the center of defense. The Croatian coach aligned Stephan El Shaarawy in place of Nicola Zalewski on the left flank and Eldor Shomurodov for Artem Dovbyk up front.
If the two teams have so far floundered, both in the league and in the European Cup, the Union has been more enterprising with opportunities for Anan Khalaili (1st) and Sykes (16th). In the meantime, the Romans had difficulty leaving their zone and Shourodov was warned for planting his crampons on the ankle of Ousseynou Niang (4th). As the pace set by the Brussels residents dropped, the Giallorossi received a little respite even if Mile Svilar deflected a shot from Niang (35th) for a corner. After the break, the Union was more wait-and-see, trying to make quick breakthroughs with each ball recovery. But managing possession well, the Romans saw a shot from Tommaso Baldanzi finish on the post (51st).
Moris was less happy when Mancini anticipated him on a cross from Lorenzo Pellegrini to score with a header (62nd, 0-1). On a returning corner from Vanhoutte, Mac Allister managed to equalize with a header (77th, 1-1).
Belgian
**Interview with Football Analyst Jean-Pierre Dupuis on the Recent Europa League Match: Union St Gilloise vs AS Roma**
**Interviewer:** Welcome, Jean-Pierre! It’s great to have you here to discuss the recent Europa League match between Union St Gilloise and AS Roma. What stood out to you during the game?
**Jean-Pierre Dupuis:** Thank you for having me! The match had its fair share of drama, didn’t it? One of the key highlights was definitely Kevin Mac Allister’s late equalizer. It was a crucial moment for Union, showing their resilience despite a tough game.
**Interviewer:** Indeed! The game ended 1-1. What did you think of Union’s tactical decisions, particularly the choice to start Ross Sykes over Rasmussen?
**Jean-Pierre Dupuis:** That was a bold move by Sébastien Pocognoli. It seemed like he wanted to reinforce the defense with an extra central defender, which is always a gamble. In theory, the ‘Fortress Brussels’ strategy could have worked, but it looked like they struggled to find their rhythm, especially in the first half.
**Interviewer:** And what about AS Roma? Bryan Cristante stepping in for Mats Hummels raised a few eyebrows. Was it a tactical decision or something else?
**Jean-Pierre Dupuis:** It’s hard to say definitively without knowing the inner workings. It could have been a tactical switch, but given Hummels’ experience, it might have been a last-minute decision. Sometimes coaches want to change things up to confuse the opposition, and it can backfire or pay off handsomely. In this case, it was a mixed bag.
**Interviewer:** The game had a rather chaotic feel to it at times. Do you think both teams were perhaps a bit too cautious given the circumstances?
**Jean-Pierre Dupuis:** Absolutely! Watching them was like watching a ballet that had gone off-script. They both had their chances, but too many moments were wasted, especially from Union in the early stages. A little more confidence could have seen them take the lead earlier.
**Interviewer:** The match ended with both teams still looking for that elusive win in the standings. What does this mean for their progression in the tournament?
**Jean-Pierre Dupuis:** It’s a mixed blessing. A draw is better than a loss, of course, but at this stage in the competition, both teams really need to start collecting wins to bolster their standings. It’s going to be a tough uphill battle, and they need to capitalize on their scoring chances if they’re looking to move forward.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Jean-Pierre, for your insights! Let’s hope the upcoming matches bring us more excitement and clarity in tactics.
**Jean-Pierre Dupuis:** My pleasure! Here’s to more thrilling football as the Europa League continues.
