Cyriel Dessers’ first half penalty and Zeki Celik’s own goal in the second half saw US Cremonese secure a remarkable win over AS Roma in the Coppa Italia at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday.
Dessers, who recently returned for a spell on the sidelines, showed strength and pace winning the ball off Roma’s CB Marash Kumbulla and raced towards goal.
He attempted to round the Rui Patricio, but the veteran goalkeeper upended the Forward and the Referee pointed straight to the spot.
The resultant kick was converted by Dessers to give Cremonese and shock lead (28′) in Rome. But he was shown a yellow card for “unsportsmanlike” conduct perhaps as he mocked the AS Roma defence after his goal.
The 28 year-old has a history with the Giallorossi which dates back to 2022 in the UEFA Europa Conference League final between Feyenoord and Roma.
On this occasion he would get one over Jose Mourinho’s men because in the second half, four minutes in his Nigerian compatriot David Okereke, who had come on as his replacement teed up Charles Pickel.
Pickel’s shot was deflected in by Zeki Celik in the 49th minute and Cremonese saw their lead doubled.
However, although AS Roma would eventually pull one back, it was too little too late. Andrea Belloti’s stoppage time goal (90+4′) couldn’t alter the destined outcome of the game.
La Cremo will now go on to face Fiorentina in April, in a double header semi-final match – Fiorentina had beaten Torino 2-1 in the other quarter-final game played on Wednesday.
