Mat Ryan finally gets his chance between the posts for Italian club Roma

It has been a long wait, but Socceroos skipper Mat Ryan has finally played a competitive game for Italian club Roma.

Socceroos captain Mat Ryan’s frustrating wait for an opportunity with Roma has come to an end, with the experienced goalkeeper finally making his competitive debut for the club in a 4-1 Coppa Italia win over Sampdoria.

Ryan, 32, joined the Italian top-flight team in July soon after parting ways with Dutch outfit AZ Alkmaar.

However, he has been forced to play second fiddle at Roma to Serbian international keeper Mile Svilar.

Ryan’s inactivity has also proved costly at Socceroos level, with the former Central Coast Mariners, Brighton and Arsenal gloveman having only played in one of Australia’s past four games, which has coincided with Tony Popovic’s appointment as national coach.

Mathew Ryan's first appearance for the club☝#ASRoma#RomaSamppic.twitter.com/02CJi81G0f

— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) December 18, 2024

However, he was finally given a chance by Roma on Thursday morning (AEDT) in Italy’s cup competition.

With Svilar, who had started in the club’s previous 22 matches in all competitions this season, watching from the bench at the Stadio Olimpico, Ryan was part of a Roma team that put the game to bed with three goals in the first 24 minutes against a Sampdoria side that plays in Italy’s second division.

However, Ryan’s hopes of keeping a clean sheet were dashed in the 61st minute when Gerard Yepes scored for the visitors.

It didn’t take long for the hosts to re-establish a three-goal lead, with Eldor Shomurodov scoring in the 79th minute to seal Roma’s spot in the quarter-finals, where they will meet fellow Serie A club Milan.

“The boys had to give a demonstration of will and spirit,” Roma coach Claudio Ranieri said.