Tommaso Milanese scored his first goal in the Roma jersey, but Amadou Diawara gifted CSKA Sofia the 2-1 half-time lead.
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The Giallorossi were already guaranteed first place in the group, so took the opportunity to give three youth academy players their first starts: Tommaso Milanese, Pietro Boer and Mory Bamba, although Riccardo Calafiori pulled out with a stomach bug.
It took just five minutes for 18-year-old Boer to concede on his debut, as a Sankhare fresh-air shot turned into an accidental assist for Tiago Rodrigues to hit a daisy-cutter into the near bottom corner from the edge of the box. CSKA Sofia had been the only side in the Europa League without a goal yet this season, so it was an important milestone for them.
There was an even more important event for Roma, as Borja Mayoral knocked down a Bruno Peres cross for Milanese to control and fire in from 10 yards. It was the 18-year-old’s debut goal and he seemed to wipe away incredulous tears during his celebrations.
Tiago Rodrigues went close again, but only hit the side-netting this time, until the second CSKA goal was gifted to them by a dreadful Amadou Diawara back-pass, which Ali Sowe gratefully accepted.
CSKA Sofia 2-1 Roma (Half-Time)
Tiago Rodriguez 5 (S), Milanese 22 (R), Sowe 34 (S)
CSKA Sofia: Busatto; Zanev, Mattheij, Antov; Yomov, Youga, Geferson, Mazikou; Tiago Rodrigues; Sowe, Sankharé
Roma: Boer; Fazio, Kumbulla, Juan Jesus; Peres, Milanese, Diawara, Bamba; Perez, Pedro; Borja Mayoral
Ref: Peljto (BIH)