
Lille clinched a pivotal 1-0 triumph at the Olimpico during the second matchday of the Europa League group stage. The early strike from Hákon Arnar Haraldsson and the extraordinary performance of goalkeeper Ozer, who famously thwarted three consecutive penalties in the second half, were the decisive factors. Despite a spirited effort, Gasperini`s Roma lacked the clinical edge in front of goal and ultimately finished empty-handed on their home turf.
Tsimikas` Costly Error Puts Lille Ahead
A significant misstep by Tsimikas gifted Lille the lead in just the 6th minute. Meunier intercepted his pass, quickly laying it off to Correia, who then perfectly set up Hákon Arnar Haraldsson. The Icelandic talent made no mistake, unleashing a powerful shot into the top corner to make it 1-0. Roma attempted to mount an immediate response through Soulé and El Aynaoui, but both players sent their efforts wide from promising positions. The clearest opportunity for the home side in the first half arose in the 35th minute: first, Soulé`s shot was blocked, then Tsimikas forced a save from Ozer, and finally, El Aynaoui`s close-range attempt was heroically cleared off the line by Mandi. Gasperini`s squad went into the break trailing by a solitary goal.
Ozer`s Heroics: Three Penalties Saved
The second half commenced with a vital save from Svilar against Giroud, yet Roma progressively gained momentum, with Ferguson narrowly missing an equalizer with a header in the 57th minute. The defining moment of the game arrived in the 81st minute: following a handball inside the box by Mandi, the referee promptly awarded a clear penalty to the home team. Dovbyk stepped up twice, followed by Soulé, but astonishingly, on all three occasions, goalkeeper Ozer proved unbeatable, denying every attempt. He emerged as the undisputed hero of the night, etching a remarkable and unprecedented statistic into the history of the Olimpico. Despite Koné`s ambitious late effort from distance, the French side steadfastly held onto their advantage until the 96th minute, securing a truly invaluable victory.