Tammy Abraham appeared in style for Roma during his UEFA European Conference League victory over Norwegian club FK Bodø / Glimt to break a decades-old club record.
The former Chelsea striker has so far scored 24 goals in all competitions for Roma in his first season at the club, a record unmatched by Rodolfo Folk since the 1929/30 Serie A season.
Abraham’s fifth-minute goal set the tone for a 4-0 victory for the Norwegian club, who had tormented Roma in the competition before that evening.
Niccolo Zaniolo, upon his return to the starting line-up for the Giallorossi, scored one of the best hat-tricks of the current season to help Roma qualify for the semi-finals of the Congressional League with a 5-2 win on aggregate at the Stadio Olimpico.
Bodo/Glimt was feeling confident after his victories over Roma in the competition, most recently in the first leg of the quarter-finals. The two teams were tied in the same group earlier in the competition, and in both the home and away group stage match, Roma lost 8-3 on aggregate.
It looked more similar after Bodo/Glimt’s 2-1 victory over the Giallorossi in Norway in the first leg, but a lively performance in the second leg of the quarter-final led by Abraham, who had a point to prove it, settled things between the two sides.
Bodo/Glimt would take his head first against AS Roma at home – two wins and a four-game draw against the Giallorossi – but Roma and coach Jose Mourinho have regained their dignity while also securing a ticket to the next round of the First Conference League. Competition.
The Italian club will have to thank Abraham for the spark, who seamlessly entered the squad following the departure of long-time striker Edin Dzeko to Inter Milan.
A jubilant Abraham took to Instagram to send a message to Bodø/Glimt fans who threw a snowball at him in Norway after winning the first leg 2-1.
Abraham promised revenge at Stadio Olimpico, who carried it out, and took to Instagram to float around. The striker posted a picture of him celebrating after his early goal, commenting: “There are no snowballs in Rome. The semi-finals are here we come!!”
The 24-year-old is the third player of this century for Roma to score 24 or more goals in a single season since Edin Dzeko and Roma legend Francesco Totti did twice at different times.
Roma will meet Leicester City, who famously won 2-1 on aggregate over PSV Eindhoven in their own game, with both goals coming in the second leg at the Phillips Stadium.
