With only 15 goals scored and eight conceded, AS Roma were not exactly known for their exhilarating attacking play. The match against Como 1907 was no exception, but in the end, the capital club came away with three points once again.
After two defeats in Serie A, AS Roma had recently lost some ground in the race for the top of the table and wanted to get back on track against surprise team Como 1907 at the end of matchday 15. But they hadn’t reckoned with the northern Italians’ defense, which allowed little against a lackluster Roma side.
Despite putting in a lot of effort in counter-pressing, the team led by coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who also fielded two familiar faces from the Bundesliga in Koné and Ndicka in the starting lineup, rarely managed to create any danger. Only attacks involving the eye-catching Wesley caused occasional headaches for coach Cesc Fabregas’ team. However, only one shot from Wesley (11th minute) and one from striker Ferguson (41st minute) were noteworthy in the first half.
Wesley redeems Roma
That changed somewhat in the second half. Como, sixth in Serie A before the matchday, came out of the dressing room with a little more momentum than in the first half. Substitute Douvikas forced Roma keeper Svilar into his first save with a blocked shot.
However, this did not really lead to a major shift in the balance of power, as the Italian capital club quickly shook off their brief passivity. And it was Wesley, of course, who finally saved his team. In the 60th minute, the full-back scored with a low shot to give his side a deserved 1-0 lead.
After that, however, the game fell back into the passivity from which it had emerged. Como’s defense had little connection to their offense, while Roma—already not known for their offensive spectacle with only 16 goals in the league and only eight goals conceded—switched into management mode. It took until substitute Posch, formerly of Hoffenheim, missed two good chances to equalize for Como. First, he was blocked by former Frankfurt player Ndicka (84′), then he hit the side netting (90’+2).
In the end, Roma held on to their narrow 1-0 lead and restored their three-point gap to league leaders Inter. Gasperini’s side will continue their campaign next Saturday (8:45 p.m.) at Juventus Turin. Como have an extra week to prepare and will face US Lecce on December 27 (3 p.m.).
