Roma hands Cambridge United Men their first regular season loss

Saturday, June 14, 2025

Cambridge United’s Men’s First Team travelled to St. Catherines to take on the

Roma Wolves in a scrappy, highly physical game that would see the visitors fall 2-0

for their first loss in divisional play.

Team

Cambridge United Starting XI: Schafer, Grant, Lesic (Zivkovic 45+1’), Ferraro,

Greenidge (Heimbecker 40’), Kohar, Paton (Gander 60’), Thamilventhan, Brousseau

(McKeon 74’), Romano, Clamp (Elezi 60’ [Mun 88’])

Unused subs: Ramsay, Andrasic, Espinola

First Half

The game kicked off with Roma immediately asserting their dominance, earning an

early corner in the 2nd minute of play. Another chance quickly followed when a

defensive giveaway by Cambridge on the right flank led to a shot that rattled off the

far post. Cambridge goalkeeper Sam Schaefer was put to work early, consistently

fending off Roma's aggressive attacking efforts.

Cambridge struggled to find their rhythm offensively, resorting to long balls in behind

that were effectively dealt with by Roma's imposing backline. While Cambridge

earned a corner and a free kick around the 10-minute mark, neither constituted a

significant threat. Schaefer continued to impress in goal, playing an aggressive, high

line to fend off Roma’s direct style of play.

Cambridge gradually grew into the game, a corner in the 22nd minute nearly resulted

in an equalizer, but a Roma player cleared a header off the line. This seemed to

inspire the home team, for it was Roma who broke the deadlock in the 26th minute.

A loose ball resulting from a tackle fell to a Roma right winger who evaded a sliding

tackle, cutting the ball back to the front post where a teammate struck it past

Schaefer, giving the home side the 1-0 lead.


Cambridge had an opportunity to equalize in the 31st minute when Landon Paton

sent a deep ball to the back post for Christian Ferraro, whose header narrowly

missed the target.

Calum Heimbecker entered for Tristan Greenidge in the 40th minute and—with

tensions rising—Marko Lesic exited with an injury for Cambridge, replaced by Luka

Zivkovic. The half concluded with Roma holding onto their 1-0 lead.

Second Half

Both teams maintained their intensity in the second half, particularly Cambridge

pressing hard for an equalizer amidst an increasingly physical game.

Cambridge made substitutions in the 60th minute, bringing on Jon Elezi for Denilson

Clamp and Colin Gander for Landon Paton. They began combining better out of the

back, but their actions in the final third were unsuccessful due to errors or Roma's

physical defensive line.

Roma, despite not finding a second goal, continued to look dangerous, frequently

penetrating Cambridge's box. Cambridge, a technical team, seemed to struggle with

the thicker grass against Roma's direct approach and overall athleticism and

physicality.

In the 77th minute, Cambridge came agonizingly close to leveling the score from a

free kick, with a header sailing just past the far post. As the game entered its final

minutes, Cambridge pushed desperately for an equalizer, pressing late amid high

tensions and an actively engaged Roma crowd.

This late push opened the door for Roma to seal their victory in the 93rd minute.

After Cambridge committed everyone but their keeper forward for a free kick, Roma

capitalized on a breakaway, securing a 2-0 win and handing the Cambridge men

their first divisional loss of the season.