Roma have handed the Major League
Soccer All Stars just their third ever
loss with Kevin Strootman leading the
Italians to a 3-1 triumph.
Strootman was fortuitously credited
with Roma's opener in the fourth minute
after a burst through midfield, and then
helped create his new club's two
second-half goals as they cruised at
Sporting Park in Kansas City.
Alessandro Florenzi and Tallo Gadji both took advantage of the thrown-together All
Stars' defence after half-time as Roma joined Manchester United as the only teams to
have ever beaten the MLS' representative side, while the home side only got on the
scoresheet in second-half stoppage time.
Roma took a very early lead on Wednesday, ripping through the middle of the All
Stars and although Aurelien Collin got back promptly to pressure visiting midfielder
Strootman, the Sporting Kansas City defender's tackle inadvertently knocked the ball
into the Dutchman and it rolled into the net.
The Serie A club dominated the opening stages and Florenzi and Vasilis Torosidis
both missed glaring chances to extend Roma's lead.
As the half wore on, the All Stars began to find their feet but could not manage an
equaliser as Roma held on to their one-goal lead at the break.
Roma stunned the hosts two minutes after half-time to double their lead with
Strootman releasing Federico Balzaretti down the left and the 31-year-old left-back
crossed to Florenzi, who ghosted into the box to side foot the ball past Raul
Fernandez of FC Dallas.
The Italian visitors wrapped up their win in the 68th minute in similar circumstances
to their opening goal.
Balzaretti played the ball into Michael Bradley's feet and the American midfielder
passed first-time to Strootman.
The 23-year-old Dutchman cut back towards Tallo Gadji and although Houston
Dynamo full-back Corey Ashe slid in and got a toe to the ball, it simply ricocheted off
the Roma forward and into the net.
As the game petered out, Los Angeles Galaxy's Omar Gonzalez gave the home fans
something to cheer about when he headed a free-kick from Camilo Sanvezzo of
Vancouver Whitecaps into the net.
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