Europa Conference League: Jose Mourinho hits officials for Roma defeat

Jose Mourinho slammed the ‘plastic field’ and the match officials after Bodo/Glimt beat Roma 2-1 in the first leg of their Europa Conference League quarter-final on Thursday,

Gianluca Mancini, a defender, was taken off in the second half with a possible knee injury.

Late goals from Brice Wembangomo and Hugo Vetlesen rounded off an otherwise disappointing night for the Italians.

‘The two goals were from a set play and a deflection. We score a lot of goals from set play too, but it’s a good one to score, a bad one to concede. The first goal was ridiculous,’ Mourinho told Sky Sport Italia.

‘To be honest, the thing that worries me the most is the injury for Mancini. It’s a concern, it’s something caused by playing on a plastic turf.’

‘We lost 2-1, we have the second leg to play at the Olimpico in front of our fans and I have no problem saying right now that I feel we are the favourites to reach the semi-final.

‘I have total faith in my players, in the stadium, the support from our people. Obviously, Bodo/Glimt are a difficult team, but I also have faith we will have a good referee and assistant in the second leg.’

Bodo/Glimt, who thrashed Jose Mourinho’s Roma 6-1 in the group stage, came back from a goal down to upset the Italian giants once more.

Just before halftime, Lorenzo Pellegrini gave Roma the lead as the visitors attempted to extend their nine-match unbeaten run in all competitions.

Before the hour mark, however, Ulrik Saltnes equalised for the home side.

With 15 minutes remaining, Pellegrini’s strike was called out for offside, and Roma were beaten again in the 89th minute by Hugo Vetlesen’s header.

In other matches, Slavia’s Ibrahim Traore scored a 95th-minute equaliser to secure a 3-3 draw at Feyenoord after Marcos Senesi’s strike and an Orkun Kokcu free-kick appeared to have sealed a comeback victory.

Luis Sinisterra put the hosts up early, but Peter Olayinka and Yira Sor responded each side of halftime.

OM appeared to be on their way to the quarterfinals after a nice volley from Gerson and a magnificent Dimitri Payet finish put them up 2-0 at halftime.

Half-time substitute Omar El Kaddouri’s brilliant finish less than three minutes after the intermission, though, changed the complexion of the tie.

Alexandros Paschalakis then made some outstanding saves to keep the hosts at bay.

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