Chievo Verona were stereotypically determined in defence, managing to keep AS Roma quiet for the majority of the match. However the giallorossi's class eventually shone through, with Marco Borriello's second-half winner ensuring Roma become the first team in Serie A history to win their opening 10 games of the season.
AS Roma vs. Chievo Verona: Final score 1-0, Giallorossi eventually overcome stubborn Flying Donkeys
It certainly wasn’t pretty, though a second-half Marco Borriello goal saw Roma beat Chievo on Thursday and maintain their perfect Serie A start.
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The first half was one of stalemate and Roma frustration, with the hosts confounded by their visitors' defensive organisation. Despite a shaky start to the season, the opening 45 minutes at the Olimpico was classic Chievo; a brutally effective performance, which literally didn't allow the giallorossi to seriously test goalkeeper Christian Puggioni in the entire half.
The half-chances that Roma did create were largely ambitious long-distance efforts, with Marquinho firing wide early on and Kevin Strootman stinging Puggioni's hands with a powerful strike from outside the area after 24 minutes. Depressingly, it was the only shot on target in the entire first half.
Needless to say, therefore, Chievo's defensive efficiency wasn't replicated in attack. Their best chance came after a quarter of an hour when Luca Rigoni found a free Alberto Paloschi in the area, though some clumsy control saw the chance go awry. The Flying Donkeys tried to counter quickly, though did so with little success.
The second half continued where the first had left off, with the Olimpico collectively nodding off with sheer boredom. That was until just over 20 minutes left, when Roma finally managed to break through the Flying Donkeys' ranks. Some great work by young substitute Alessandro Florenzi saw him chip the ball up and volley it temptingly across the face of goal, with Marco Borriello gobbling up the chance and heading beyond Puggioni for 1-0.
Unsurprisingly Chievo struggled to respond to going a goal down; deflated after working so hard to keep the ball out at their own end for 67 minutes. Roma remained in the ascendency until the final whistle, though couldn’t add to the opening goal before the final whistle sounded. They restore their five-point advantage at the top of the table, while the Flying Donkeys stay worryingly rooted to the bottom.
AS Roma: De Sanctis; Dodô (Balzaretti 65’), Castán, Benatia, Torosidis; Strootman, De Rossi, Pjanić (Bradley 81’); Marquinho (Florenzi 59’), Borriello, Ljajić.
Goals: Borriello (67’).
Chievo Verona: Puggioni; Claiton dos Santos (Papp 62’), Dainelli, Frey; Dramé (Estigarribia 67’), Hetemaj, Bentivoglio (Acosty 77’), Rigoni, Sardo; Paloschi, Pellissier.
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