Serie A

Roma secure 3-0 friendly victory over Cannes on Wesley debut

August 1, 2025

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Roma secure 3-0 friendly victory over Cannes on Wesley debut

epa12073520 Roma’s Artem Dovbyk (R) celebrates with his teammates after scoring the 1-0 goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between AS Roma and ACF Fiorentina, in Rome, Italy, 04 May 2025. EPA-EFE/ANGELO CARCONI

Roma defeated Cannes 3-0 in a pre-season friendly with Artem Dovbyk, Stephan El Shaarawy and Evan Ferguson goals, as Wesley received his debut and Mile Svilar was injured.

The Giallorossi took to the field at the Tre Fontane complex and were forced into a late change, as Svilar pulled out with muscular problems, so new signing Devis Vasquez took the gloves.

Gian Piero Gasperini’s side wore black armbands and the fans also had banners showing solidarity to former Roma goalkeeper Julio Sergio, who lost his son Enzo this week to cancer.

It took just three minutes to break the deadlock, as El Shaarawy burst into the box and curled in a precise right-foot finish.

Cheikh N’Doye hit the woodwork with a header, but only after he was flagged offside, while El Shaarawy forced a save and thumped the crossbar.

ROME, ITALY - JANUARY 17: Stephan El Shaarawy of AS Roma celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Genoa at Stadio Olimpico on January 17, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images) — ROME, ITALY – JANUARY 17: Stephan El Shaarawy of AS Roma celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Genoa at Stadio Olimpico on January 17, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

Roma doubled their lead just before half-time when El Shaarawy ran onto the Tommaso Baldanzi pass and generously rolled it across for the Dovbyk tap-in.

Former Flamengo winger Wesley came on for his debut in the second half, but Mario Hermoso missed a sitter on Matias Soulé’s corner.

Vasquez did well in a one-on-one situation with Sory Doumbouya, while Manu Koné was also wasteful when sent through by Angelino.

As we have seen so many times in pre-season, Ferguson is in spectacular form since his move from Brighton and Hove Albion.

The Irish striker completed the rout late on another assist from Angelino.

Roma 3-0 Cannes

El Shaarawy 3 (R), Dovbyk 43 (R), Ferguson 88 (R)

Roma: Vasquez; Celik (Reale 57), N’Dicka (Mancini 46), Hermoso (Kumbulla 57); Rensch (Wesley 46), Cristante (Pisilli 46), El Aynaoui (Koné 46), Salah-Eddine (Angelino 46); Baldanzi (Soulé 46), El Shaarawy (Cherubini 57); Dovbyk (Ferguson 46)