Roma maintained their unbeaten start to the Serie A season with a 4-2 victory over Cagliari at Stadio Olimpico, scoring twice in the closing stages to secure three points.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s team appeared set to settle for a draw after Daniel Maldini levelled for Cagliari in the 81st minute. However, substitutes Rodrigo Mora and Donyell Malen restored Roma’s advantage and then added a fourth goal, keeping the hosts third in the league.
Cagliari took the lead in the 10th minute when Niccolo Pisilli was penalised for blocking Michel Adopo’s header with his arm. Following a VAR review, M’Bala Nzola sent Pierluigi Gollini the wrong way by placing his penalty into the bottom-right corner.
Roma turned the game around before the half-hour mark. Emanuele Lulli equalised in the 21st minute, rising at the back post to head in Nahuel Molina’s cross. Five minutes later, Lulli supplied a whipped delivery which Pisilli converted with a side-footed finish.
Matias Soule nearly caught Elia Caprile out with a free-kick from the right that threatened the near post. Cagliari also created opportunities, although Adopo could not generate enough power with a first-time effort to trouble Gollini.
Gasperini introduced Mora and Malen during the second half, but Cagliari continued to look dangerous. Alieu Fadera tested Gollini with a powerful effort on the hour, forcing the Roma goalkeeper into a reflex save.
The visitors’ pressure eventually told when Maldini finished after impressive work from Adam Obert down the left. Their lead lasted only five minutes, however, as Mora headed in Daniele Ghilardi’s cross to put Roma back in front.
Mora then played a decisive role in Roma’s fourth goal, which arrived 110 seconds later. He reached the byline and cut the ball back for Malen, whose first attempt was blocked before he followed up to score from the rebound.
Mora and Malen make the difference
Roma’s late recovery followed an 89th-minute equaliser against Napoli in their previous match. On this occasion, they had enough attacking threat to deserve at least a point, recording 3.02 expected goals (xG) compared with Cagliari’s 2.4.
Mora created three chances, the joint-highest total in the match alongside Molina and Soule. Malen registered the most shots, with four, and also had the most touches in the opposition box, with seven.
Lulli, aged 19, also impressed before being replaced in the 76th minute. He created two chances, won three of his five duels and made two interceptions.
His goal and assist mean Lulli is now one of two defenders born from 2007 onwards to have recorded at least three direct goal contributions in the top five European leagues this season. The other is Barcelona’s Xavi Espart.
Roma remain four points behind leaders Lazio, who thrashed Sassuolo earlier on Tuesday. Gasperini’s side next travel to face Cagliari.
