Roma boss Jose Mourinho was left sulking on the touchline as his Red Bull Salzburg counterpart Matthias Jaissle mimicked his most iconic goal celebration.
Jaissle's team hosted Mourinho's Giallorossi in the first leg of a Europa League play-off clash on Thursday. With the final whistle drawing close, Nicolas Capaldo popped up with a late winner from the hosts, prompting the home boss to sprint down the touchline.
The celebration was reminiscent of Mourinho's own antics back in 2004 when his Porto team stunned Man Utd in the Champions League. Whether due to the late goal or his opposite number's antics, the Portuguese coach was clearly none too impressed.
Roma were forced into a play-off after only managing a second place finish in the Europa League group stage. Salzburg, meanwhile, finished behind Chelsea and AC Milan in the Champions League to miss out on a second straight last-16 tie in that competition.
With just two minutes of regular time remaining, it looked as though the teams would be all-square going into the return leg at the Stadio Olimpico. Instead, though, Capaldo found space in the box to plant a downward header into the corner of Rui Patricio's net.
Cue wild celebrations from the home players, but also from their manager. Jaissle could be seen racing towards the end at which his team scored, marking what many rightly suspected would be the winning goal on the night.
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“We must brace ourselves and be careful,” Jaissle told reporters before the game (as translated by RomaPress ). “It has to be a perfect game for us, and in order to do it we must defend well and make the best of the opportunities that Roma will give us.”
“We are preparing the boys in the best possible way for tomorrow night. We want to surprise the opponents and show a motivated, courageous attitude over the two legs.”
The visitors were dealt an early blow when Paulo Dybala was forced off injured. The Argentina international, who has already spent time on the sidelines after his summer arrival, didn't re-emerge for the second period.
There was one welcome sight for Roma fans, at least, with Gini Wijnaldum continuing his return after a leg break. The Dutch international missed the World Cup through injury, but returned in the weekend draw with Lecce after six months out and added 16 more minutes in Austria.
Match-winner Capaldo was another man back in action after injury. The midfielder missed crucial Champions League games with knee problems, and the goal against Roma was his first in any UEFA competition.
Roma will still feel they can make it into the round of 16, and their game was one of a number of early kick-offs left delicately poised. Shakhtar Donetsk beat Rennes 2-1, while Ajax drew with Union Berlin and Manchester United were denied victory by a late Barcelona equaliser at Camp Nou.
