AS Roma vs Leicester player ratings: Abraham 9, Zalewski 8; Vardy 4, Evans 5

Abraham header sends Roma through to inaugural Europa Conference League final on May 25

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  ROMA RATINGS: Rui Patricio 6 – Didn’t have a save to make until the 79th minute, when he first made a comfortable stop to deny a Maddison free-kick, and then reacted to deny Iheanacho’s curling effort. Reuters

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  Roger Ibanez 7 – His firmness in the tackle encapsulated Roma’s miserly defensive approach, which gave Leicester very little room to manoeuvre in the attacking third. EPA

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  Chris Smalling 8 – Was a threat at both ends early on; making a crucial block to deny Tielemans in the opening minutes and heading narrowly over from a corner at the other. Headed over again in the second half. Did a brilliant job at keeping Jamie Vardy quiet. Getty Images

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  Gianluca Mancini 7 – An immense defensive performance from the 26-year-old, complete with his customary yellow card. Getty Images

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  Rick Karsdorp 7 – Brilliant on Roma’s right-hand side, forming part of an intense resistance that kept Leicester at bay and restricted the visitors to long-range efforts. Getty Images

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  Bryan Cristante 7 – Enjoyed a fascinating tussle with James Maddison, and he gave the Leicester schemer very little time and space on the ball. Reuters

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  Sergio Oliveira 6 – Saw a late effort saved by Schmeichel, which gifted his side a corner in the dying moments of the game. Getty Images

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  Lorenzo Pellegrini 7 – Had Roma’s first attempt on goal with a free-kick and forced Schmeichel down to his right. Came close again with a half volley, but once again found Schmeichel in his way. Linked well with Abraham from set pieces. AFP

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  Nicola Zalewski 8 – A lively and consistent performance throughout, and he was cheered every time he touched the ball in the opening exchanges. Roma tried to get him the ball as much as possible, with good reason. Was given a standing ovation when he was replaced. AFP

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  Nicolo Zaniolo 7 – The forward was an obvious target for Roma, and his side’s quick passing enabled him to get forward. He was a driving force all evening, though his closest effort was blocked by Fofana. EPA

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  Tammy Abraham 9 – The former Chelsea man combined some good centre-forward play with neat touches throughout. He climbed highest to meet Pellegrini’s outswinging corner to head the hosts into the lead, his ninth goal of the competition, and his 25th in total this season. Getty Images

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  SUBS: Jordan Veretout (Zaniolo, 78) N/A – With Zaniolo tiring, Mourinho added a more defensive presence to try and close the game out. AFP

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  Matias Vina (Zalewski, 84) N/A – Came on the left flank and his fresh legs added some stability late on. Reuters

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  Eldor Shomurodov (Abraham, 88) – His first contribution was a foul on Amartey, which was the perfect way to slow the game down. AP Photo

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  LEICESTER RATINGS: Kasper Schmeichel 6 – Made two saves to deny Pellegrini in the first half but could do little to stop Abraham’s powerful header. Was quiet thereafter. Getty Images

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  Ricardo Pereira 4 – Was guilty of losing out to Abraham on the opening goal, though in his defence, given he’s 15cm shorter than Abraham, he perhaps shouldn’t have been marking him. AFP

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  Jonny Evans 5 – Held the back line well but didn’t have much to do. AFP

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  Roma's British forward Tammy Abraham (L) fights for the ball with Leicester's French]defender Wesley Fofana during the UEFA Conference League semi-final second leg football match between AS Roma and Leicester City at The Olympic Stadium in Rome, on May 5, 2022. (Photo by Isabella BONOTTO / AFP)

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  James Justin 6 – Had very little opportunity to get forward as Roma dominated the flanks, until Leicester moved to a back three. Had to wait until the 70th minute for some space, but his cross was too high for Vardy. PA

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  Youri Tielemans 5 – A very quiet evening in which he did little wrong, he simply couldn’t influence the game at all. PA

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  Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall 5 – Left his shooting boots at home. In the first half, he won the ball back on one occasion after giving it away, and sent an effort narrowly over the bar. In the second, he had one run at goal before dragging an effort wide of the post. PA

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  James Maddison 5 – Was forced to drop deep to get the ball, but he was targeted throughout and had very little time to create. Had one forward run just before half-time, and a free-kick after the break, which was comfortably saved. Getty Images

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  Ademola Lookman 5 – Had to wait until the 43rd minute to get his first bit of space in the Roma half, but even then, he was closed down pretty quickly. Substituted at the break. EPA

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  Harvey Barnes 4 – Saw very little of the ball in the first half and was on the periphery throughout. Couldn’t seem to get hold of the ball. Getty Images

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  Jamie Vardy 4 – Got very little change from Smalling, who made it an isolated evening for the Foxes striker. He had one sight of goal all evening, and his subsequent shot was blocked by Abraham. AFP

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  Roma's Tammy Abraham right, challenges for the ball with Leicester's Daniel Amartey during a Conference League semifinal second leg soccer match between Roma and Leicester City, at Rome's Olympic Stadium, Thursday, May 5, 2022. (AP Photo / Andrew Medichini)

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  Kelechi Iheanacho (Barnes, 46) 5 – Forced Patricio into a save with a left-footed effort, but he couldn’t trouble the Roma custodian. Getty Images

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  Timothy Castagne (Pereira, 69) 6 – Made a good block to deny Zalewski 10 minutes after coming on. AFP

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  Ayoze Perez (Dewsbury-Hall, 77) N/A – Showed some neat touches as he looked to change the game but was unable to open Roma’s back line. Getty Images

Tammy Abraham’s first-half header earned Italian Serie A side Roma a place in the final of the inaugural Europa Conference League, where they will meet Dutch club Feyenoord following two tight semi-finals on Thursday.

Roma edged Leicester City 1-0 to win their tie 2-1 on aggregate, while Feyenoord held home side Olympique Marseille to a scrappy 0-0 draw on the French south coast and advanced 3-2.

The final will be played in Tirana, Albania on May 25, where the winners will automatically qualify for the 2022/23 Europa League group stage, unless they reach the Champions League pool stages next season.

There was little to choose between the sides at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, where the decisive goal came on 11 minutes as Leicester’s frailties at set-pieces this season were exposed again.

Lorenzo Pellegrini’s corner was met by the head of England international Abraham, who guided the ball into the net.

It took Leicester 78 minutes to have a first shot on target as they battled to create clear-cut chances against the well organised home side, who reach their first European final since losing to compatriots Inter Milan in the 1991 Uefa Cup.

The second leg of the semi-final between Marseille and Feyenoord was marred by fan violence in the build-up as supporters from both sides clashed with each other and police, while a brick was thrown at the visitors’ team bus.

The first leg had been a five-goal thriller, but this was more of a cagey affair with the best chance of the first half falling to Marseille’s Dimitri Payet, who sliced a shot wide when he should have scored.

Marseille pressed for the goal they needed to equalise on aggregate, but Feyenoord held on to reach their first European final since they lifted the Uefa Cup for the second time in 2002.