Matias Soule was the matchwinner for Roma as they defeated Atalanta 2-1 at Stadio Olimpico following a dramatic turnaround.
Ederson’s goal early on in the second half gave Atalanta the lead against the run of play, but Mario Hermoso levelled in the 89th minute before Soule stuck in stoppage time to extend Roma’s perfect start to their Serie A season.
It would be an understatement to say Roma dominated the first half. Gian Piero Gasperini’s side registered a remarkable 18 shots before half-time, with Gianluca Mancini’s header in the 14th minute forcing a strong save from Marco Carnesecchi.
Rodrigo Mora’s six shots in the opening 45 minutes all failed to hit the target, and Atalanta made Roma pay for their wastefulness as just 80 seconds in the second half, Ederson fired a loose ball in the box past Mile Svilar.
Gasperini made a huge call just after the hour mark, replacing top scorer Donyell Malen with Santiago Castro, though the latter struck the base of the left post a minute after his introduction.
Castro hit the woodwork again late on before Carnesecchi made a double save to keep out Dybala and a deflected cross from Wesley, but Roma scored from the resulting corner as Hermoso’s header looped in at the far post.
And Roma clinched all three points in the 93rd minute as Soule cut inside onto his left foot before sweeping in at the near post, with Carnesecchi unable to keep out the winger’s tame effort.
Roma find clinical edge at the death
It looked like Ederson’s goal would punish a lacklustre finishing display from Roma, but after Hermoso’s header, there was a sense of inevitability that Gasperini’s side would go on to find a winner.
It was Soule, who also assisted the equaliser, who got Roma over the line in dramatic fashion. The winger also recorded seven shots, more than the entire Atalanta team combined (six), as his persistence paid off.
Overall, Roma recorded an incredible 39 shots, 10 of which were on target, which amounted to 3.24 expected goals (xG), as the pressure on Atalanta’s goal eventually told.
Carnesecchi made nine saves as he tried his best to keep Atalanta’s perfect start going, but Maurizio Sarri’s side will rue their late defending while Roma reclaim top spot in Serie A.
