Borriello makes his mark as Roma quality shows

After playing a lead role in AS Roma's thrilling fightback against FC Bayern München on Tuesday, Marco Borriello explained that tactical changes and a more forthright approach enabled the Giallorossi to complete a memorable 3-2 win.

Roma's prospects of reaching the UEFA Champions League knockout stages looked compromised when Mario Gomez's double had the hosts trailing 2-0 at the break. Indeed, Bayern were unlucky not to be three up after Júlio Sérgio's legs kept out Tony Kroos's deflected strike. However, spearheaded by Borriello, Roma were a different proposition after half-time, and within four minutes the 28-year-old Italian international had given them a lifeline.

A superb run and cross by Jérémy Menez picked out the former AC Milan forward in the area and despite losing his footing as he turned to shoot, Borriello showed great presence of mind to score his third Group E goal while falling to ground. "I was pleased to make my mark on the game but have my team-mates to thank too," Borriello told UEFA.com.

"Fortunately we scored early in the second half, which got the crowd going, and then slowly but surely we worked our way towards the win. For the first goal, Menez did exceptionally well to set me up and somehow, I'm not quite sure how, I got my shot off to score."

Roma created further opportunities thereafter, only to be thwarted by Bayern's debutant goalkeeper Thomas Kraft, yet eventually Daniele De Rossi equalised on 81 minutes. There was still time for Borriello to have a hand in the winner as he drew a foul from Kraft for the 84th-minute penalty that substitute Francesco Totti converted.

"It was a great through ball by Totti for the third goal," he added. "Luckily I managed to get there just ahead of the goalkeeper. We were made to pay for our slow approach in the first half, so in the second we changed formation and moved Menez to the right wing and Mirko Vučinić to the left. We picked up the pace and our quality showed.

"All in all it was a fantastic second-half performance and we got three vital points that set us up nicely to reach the next round. We still need a point but we're hopeful of getting it in Cluj." Roma, second in Group E, visit CFR 1907 Cluj on 8 December, when FC Basel 1893 travel to Bayern needing a win and for Roma to lose if the Swiss club are to pip Claudio Ranieri's men to a last-16 berth.