AS Roma crowned Europa Conference League champions

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Nicolo Zaniolo won Roma their first-ever major European trophy on Wednesday with the only goal in a 1-0 win over Feyenoord in the inaugural Europa Conference League final.

Italy international Zaniolo struck with a well-taken finish in the 32nd minute to earn Roma their first trophy of any kind since 2008 and cap a successful first season for coach Jose Mourinho in Rome.

โ€œIt was a real struggle but Iโ€™m really happy,โ€ Zaniolo said to Sky.

โ€œIt was my dream and now Iโ€™ve done it.โ€

Mourinhoโ€™s team rode their luck, with Feyenoord having the lionโ€™s share of the play and twice striking the woodwork in the second half.

But they remained solid in the face of Dutch dominance and brought joy to one of Europeโ€™s most passionate and success-starved fanbases.

Over 50,000 fans packed the Stadio Olimpico in the Italian capital to watch their team make a little piece of history in Albania.

Meanwhile, the small corner of supporters allowed into Tiranaโ€™s National Stadium roared with delight once referee Istvan Kovacs blew his whistle to end their teamโ€™s trophy drought.

For 1970 European champions Feyenoord it was their first-ever defeat in a European final as well as being the first loss in the competition for Arne Slotโ€™s team.