Coppa Italia: Roma 3 Atalanta 0

12 December 2012 02:42

Roma has advanced to the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia with Miralem Pjanic leading the way in a 3-0 triumph over Atalanta.

Pjanic scored the opener for Roma and set up third goal and despite a 55th-minute red card to Pablo Osvaldo, the capital club held on to earn a berth in the last eight.

Roma took the lead in the 21st minute when Pjanic picked up a loose ball in midfield, sprinted forward and then hit a powerful drive through the hands of Atalanta goalkeeper Andrea Consigli.

Just 10 minutes later, Mattia Destro produced a fine pass on the turn to put Osvaldo in behind and the Italian striker got his toe to the ball ahead of a hesitant Consigli and it rolled into the net.

Roma effectively ended the round of 16 tie in the 51st minute with a flowing end-to-end move, which culminated in a well-weighted pass from Pjanic to Destro, who side-footed the ball home.

Osvaldo received a straight red card four minutes later when he elbowed Atalanta defender Carlos Matheu at a corner but the visitors failed to take advantage of having an extra player for more than half an hour.