Marchizza the match-winner as Roma beat Terek Grozny

Primavera defender Riccardo Marchizza was the unlikely hero as Roma completed their training camp in Pinzolo with a 3-2 win over Terek Grozny on Sunday.

Twice the Giallorossi led at Stadio Pineta but twice they were pegged back by their Russian opponents, as Diego Perotti fired home from distance in the first half and then Edin Dzeko coolly slotted home early in the second.

That set the stage for Marchizza to win the game, as he turned the ball into the net from close range after a goal-mouth scramble late in the contest.

Coach Spalletti named another strong side to start this game, throwing new signing Juan Jesus straight into the defence alongside Mario Rui.

Christian D’Urso was the one Primavera representative to start the tie, slotting into midfield alongside Kevin Strootman and Emerson Palmieri, as Edin Dzeko once again led the line with Diego Perotti and Mohamed Salah.

It was the visitors who initially started the brighter, with Roma struggling to get a foot on the ball for the opening 10 minutes. But as the half wore on the nominative hosts gained confidence and possession, with Terek Grozny generally reduced to short-lived counter-attacking opportunities.

Shots, however, remained at a premium, with the final ball often lacking for both sides. Indeed Roma did not really create a chance of note until the opener, as Perotti capitalized on a gap in the defence to unleash a powerful drive that beat the goalkeeper at his near post.

That ensured Roma led at half-time, where once again Spalletti opted to make a number of changes – not quite the completely new XI of Wednesday’s win over AC Pinzolo but still five substitutions, including Francesco Totti.

Totti would make his impact, but not until after Terek had restored parity through Grosav – the forward finding the net after being played through by a teammate.

And it was also a teammate that Dzeko would have to thank three minutes later as he restored Roma’s lead – the striker played clean through by Totti for a simple finish.

Both sides created further chances ine final quarter of the encounter, although it looked like Roma would hold on to secure victory until Grosav produced a free-kick of the highest quality to beat Bogdan Lobont.

Yet that still left ten minutes remaining and so it proved to be plenty of time for a winner, as a Totti free-kick wrecked havoc in the box – and gave Marchizza a moment to savour as the ball fell to him.

See a gallery of photos from the match here.