Scudetto-chasing AS Roma maintained their flawless record when scoring first this season, grinding out a narrow 1-0 victory over Como to remain just three points behind Serie A leaders Inter Milan, Softfootball reports.
On a cold, gloomy night in the capital, Roma once again showed their knack for doing just enough. The first half was short on quality and clear chances, with the opening 25 minutes passing without either side offering much in the way of attacking threat. Roma gradually began to turn the screw, but Como’s well-drilled defensive block proved difficult to break down.
Wesley França came closest before the interval when he blasted over from inside the area, though the presence of several defenders in his path forced him into an ambitious attempt. The best moment of the half arrived late on when Wesley escaped down the right and drilled a low cross into the box, but Evan Ferguson could only steer his effort straight at Como goalkeeper Jean Butez.
The tempo lifted noticeably after the break, with Como matching their entire first-half shot count within the opening 10 minutes of the second period. Roma thought they had made the breakthrough soon after, but Bryan Cristante’s effort was correctly ruled out for offside.
The decisive moment eventually arrived in fortunate circumstances for the hosts. A muscle injury to Jayden Addai allowed Roma wing-back Devyne Rensch time and space to deliver from the byline, and with the help of Matías Soulé’s clever touch, the ball fell kindly for Wesley. The Brazilian made no mistake, drilling a low finish into the bottom corner to break the deadlock.
From there, Gian Piero Gasperini’s side managed the game with maturity, rarely looking like surrendering their slim advantage. Despite only leading by a single goal, Roma controlled proceedings and limited Como to half-chances as the clock ticked down.
The win caps off another positive period for Roma, who are clearly carrying momentum from Europe into their domestic campaign. They recently swept aside Celtic 3-0 away in the Europa League before that, they came up with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Midtjylland, results that underline their growing confidence and consistency.
After the game, AS Roma shared via its official X handle an exclusive footage showing goal scorer Wesley Franca collecting his man of the match award deservedly after scoring a wonderful goal to see As Roma through. They posted:
While Como continue to impress in flashes this season, this encounter highlighted the gap that still exists between them and Serie A’s genuine title contenders. For Roma, however, it was another gritty, professional performance that keeps them firmly in the hunt for a first Scudetto in 24 years.
