Roma, comeback victory in Verona
Hellas Verona-Roma 1-3
Roma went through in the Caesarini zone in Verona with goals from youngster Volpato and El Shaarawy, two changes drawn by Mourinho to unlock a result pinned at 1 to 1. Giallorossi were victorious in a comeback after the Gialloblù’s goal from Dawidowicz, later sent off, and Zaniolo’s equalizer. Final: Verona-Roma 1-3. Giallorossi now, on the eve of the derby, fourth with 25 points, one more than Lazio; Verona still second-last at 5. Roma-Lazio, Monza-Hellas Verona.
First half. Colorful start from tactics. Then at 8 Hellas steals the ball on the left, Kallon centers low, the ball crosses the Roma area with Verona center forward Henry watching it go past. The Gialloblù try to get in often from the left but the usual Henry impassive spectator. Hongla tries from outside, Rui Patricio confidently neutralizes. On the other side Montipò comes out with his fists. Roma counterattack: Abraham skips even the fullback but kicks at the outside post: glaring mistake, result nailed on 0-0. Abraham continues to be a thorn in the side of Verona’s uncertain rearguard: he smashes a header from the middle of the box, ball just over the crossbar. Veloso tries from the edge, diagonal shot choked to the side. The match takes off. Hellas corner: Veloso from the crossbar, fishes Faraoni on the edge, shot, touch by Dawidowicz, ball in the net. All stop: the referee waits for the Var verdict, which agrees with Hellas. Verona-Roma: 1-0 (27′). 32′: awkward intervention in midfield by Dawidowicz on Zaniolo who rolls onto the Bentegodi turf. Play stopped for a few minutes, Var intervenes again: the referee expels Dawidowicz for unfair and dangerous play, Verona in 10. Another intervention on Zaniolo, this time by Ceccherini in the 40th minute: a scrum breaks out, the referee quells it and play resumes. Roma manages to take advantage of numerical superiority in the 3 minutes of added time: a glaring defensive indecision by the Scaligeri, ball to Kamara who serves Abraham: the striker hits the second post of the evening, the ball returns to the pitch, Zaniolo, undisturbed, inserts the 1 to 1. Everyone in the locker room.
Second half. Bocchetti inserts Hien and Lasagna, Mourinho plays the El Shaarawy card. Nothing happens so much that the Roma coach inserts Belotti and Volpato. The Giallorossi try to tighten up but theirs is too predictable a maneuver, Verona in 10 fails to produce offensive actions worthy of note. No excitement, Matic in Roma and Magnani in Hellas also enter. 26′: dangerous cross signed Belotti, Montipò saves for a corner. Bocchetti plays the Djuric card. 34′: Lasagna, obstructed, falls in the area, the referee lets it go. Ten to go Roma pushes, Matic hits a resounding crossbar. Another Giallorossi change: in comes Shomurodov, in comes Sulemane in Verona. 43′: 19-year-old Volpato from the edge beats Montipò for 2-1 Giallorossi. Tris in the recovery signed El Shaarawy.
