Roma 3-3 Austria Wien: Match report, reaction and key statistics

The Giallorossi looked on course for victory after two first-half goals from Stephan El Shaarawy and a fine finish from Alessandro Florenzi had given them a 3-1 advantage with 10 minutes remaining, but two goals in barely 60 seconds from the visitors saw them steal a point.

The draw leaves both sides level on five points in Group E, while Astra Giurgiu’s win over Viktoria Plzen leaves those sides on three and two points respectively.

That means there is still everything to play for in the second half of the group stage – although a victory over Austria in the next match, on 3 November, will go a long way towards securing the Giallorossi’s passage to the next round.

It was actually the visitors who took the lead on the night, as Raphael Holzhauser ghosted in at the far post to fire a low volley beyond Alisson. Roma responded almost immediately, however, as Stephan El Shaarawy latched onto Gerson’s scooped ball over the top to draw his side level just two minutes later.

From that point onwards the Giallorossi began to take control of the contest, and it was little surprise when they took the lead just after the half-hour mark. Again it was El Shaarawy with the finish, this time the forward receiving a sublime assist from Francesco Totti – making his 100th European appearance – before passing a pinpoint shot into the top corner.

After half-time the pace of the game seemed to drop somewhat, with Roma exerting control over proceedings without creating too many clear-cut chances of note. The third goal, when it came, was a beautiful change from that – as Totti again played the provider, sending in a sumptuous outside-of-the-foot cross that Florenzi thundered home with impunity on the volley.

That should have been that for the hosts and, indeed, it looked like it would be until a later flurry from Austria secured them a point. First substitute Dominik Prokop slotted home from 12 yards after the ball fell to him kindly in the area, before Olarenwaju Kayode flicked in the equaliser after somehow finding space inside the six-yard box.

Roma pushed for a late winner – Edin Dzeko and Mohamed Salah both had the ball in the net, but both were offside – but were ultimately forced to settle for a draw that will have done little to please the coach.

Team selection

The obvious news from Luciano Spalletti's XI was the presence of Francesco Totti in attack - confirming his 100th appearance in European competitions for the Giallorossi.

Beyond that the team was much as expected, given Spalletti confirmed in his pre-match press conference that Gerson and Stephan El Shaarawy would play.

Radja Nainggolan and Kostas Manolas - who had been a slight fitness doubt - both added further experience to the side, with Alisson in goal and both Leandro Paredes and Juan Manuel Iturbe among the starters.

Key moments

FIRST HALF

4’ – Venuto runs at the defence but his shot is never worrying Alisson

8’ – Florenzi burns Almer’s fingertips with a lashed effort from distance

9’ – Totti’s low corner is driven narrowly wide by Paredes.

13’ – Gerson breaks El Shaarawy free over the top, but the forward tries to play in Iturbe who is offside.

16’ – Goal. Kayode delivers a deep ball into the box that Holzhauser volleys first time back across goal. 1-0 Austria.

18’ – GOAL! Roma equalise! Gerson finds El Shaarawy in behind once again, and the forward lobs the goalkeeper brilliantly! 1-1.

23’ – Break in play as Austria goalkeeper Almer suffers a knee injury. He is replaced.

29’ – Another chance for Florenzi, who cuts inside before shooting straight at sub goalkeeper Hadzikic.

33’ – GOAL! Roma lead! This time it is Totti who produces the brilliant pass to release El Shaarawy, who chests the ball down before passing into the top corner! 2-1!

42’ – Couple of chances for Austria: Venuto shoots straight at Alisson, the rebound is blocked, and then Kayode fires high and wide.

43’ – Nainggolan wins a corner with a shot from inside the area.

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See more images in our match gallery.

SECOND HALF

58’ – Iturbe fires well wide.

69’ – GOAL! MADONNA! Totti fires an outside of the boot cross towards the far post, and Florenzi lashes it home first time! 3-1!

72’ – Salah has the ball in the net from another Totti pass, but he is ruled to be offside.

77’- Kayode goes for the acrobatic, but his shot is comfortably wide.

82’ – Goal. Austria get one back. The ball ricochets free inside the area and Prokop converts from 12 yards. 3-2.

83’ – Goal. Austria equalise. An inswinging cross beats the backline and Kayode slips infront of Alisson to score. 3-3.

89’ – Dzeko has the ball in the back of the net after a slick passing move, but the striker was offside.

Key match statistics

See more match statistics in our match centre.

Social media reaction

Roma reaction

“The issue is that when you’re one yard slower than your opponents, who themselves have nothing to lose and are playing for their lives, you pay the price for that one yard."We didn’t have a bad game this evening. We played well and could have made more of some opportunities." 

- Luciano Spalletti

What's next?

The game represents the start of another busy period for the Giallorossi. They are back at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday, as they host Palermo in the late kick-off in Serie A.

Two further league engagements follow next week, both of them away from home: with Sassuolo on Wednesday and Empoli on Saturday the opponents.

The club's next Europa League fixture is against Austria in, erm, Austria - with the chance to secure progression to the knockout stages with a victory on 3 November.

ROMA 3-3 AUSTRIA WIEN

Goalscorers: El Shaarawy (18', 33'), Florenzi (69'); Holzhauser (16'), Prokop (81'), Kayode (83')

Roma: Alisson; Florenzi (Emerson), Manolas, Fazio, Jesus; Paredes, Gerson, Nainggolan; Iturbe (Dzeko), Totti, El Shaarawy (Salah)

Austria Wien: Almer (Hadzikic); Stryger Larsen, Stronati, Filipovic, Martschinko; Serbest, Holzhauser; Venuto (Tajouri-Shradi), Grunwald (Prokop), Felipe Pires; Kayode.