Stephan El Shaarawy shot Roma to within touching distance of Serie A’s Champions League places with the late winner in Sunday’s 1-0 success over 10-man Monza.
Italy international El Shaarawy lashed in a low finish in the final minute at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, pushing Jose Mourinho’s team up to seventh with their third straight league win.
Roma, who also struck the woodwork late on through Romelu Lukaku and Sardar Azmoun, are three points behind Napoli, Fiorentina and third-placed Juventus who take on AC Milan in the weekend’s big match later on Sunday.
El Shaarawy’s first goal of the season came at the end of a tough match against 11th-placed Monza who had to play the entire second half with 10 men following Danilo D’Ambrosio’s harsh sending off for two bookable offences four minutes before half-time.
“When I saw Azmoun’s shot, more than Lukaku’s, hit the post I thought, bah, if that doesn’t go in… but Stephan has a feeling for goals and scoring late so he won the match for us,” said Mourinho to Sky Sport.
Mourinho was sent off in stoppage time as tensions flared between the two dugouts after El Shaarawy struck, the Portuguese making a crying motion at the Monza staff.
“The only ones complaining about the referee were them. I’m not criticising them for it but for the fact that after a match like that they had some nasty words for us,” added Mourinho.
Defeat for Monza was harsh as the away side put up a brave fight despite being a man down for half the match, El Shaarawy’s winner the first goal they have conceded from open play since being thumped by Atalanta the start of September.
Raffaele Palladino’s Monza look set for another decent season in Italy’s top flight after being promoted last year and weren’t fazed by new signing Papu Gomez being hit with a two-year doping ban on Friday.
Gomez’s suspension was a huge blow to Monza as the Argentine was brought in to replace star man Gianluca Caprari after he was ruled out for months with a knee ligament injury.
“I saw the boys out there with heart and giving their all. I praised my team after the match because they showed a lot of character,” said Palladino.
Atalanta sink Genoa
Roma were briefly sixth but were bumped down a place by Atalanta who squeezed to a 2-0 win over promoted Genoa which took them up to 16 points, two ahead of Mourinho’s team.
Ademola Lookman opened the scoring in Bergamo after 67 minutes and a lengthy VAR check for handball by the Nigeria forward which initially led to the goal being chalked off.
However Livio Marinelli went back on the original decision after viewing the incident and gave Lookman’s third goal of the season.
Ederson sealed the points in stoppage time seconds after Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi did brilliantly to deny George Puscas from nicking a late leveller.
Alberto Gilardino’s Genoa, who were missing injured Italy striker Mateo Retegui, are four points above the relegation zone in 15th.
Bologna are nestled behind Roma on goal difference after beating promoted Frosinone 2-1 while Filippo Inzaghi’s new team Salernitana and Cagliari drew 2-2 a frantic match between two struggling sides.
Boulaye Dia salvaged a point from the penalty spot in the fifth minute of stoppage time after his 86th-minute leveller was cancelled out just two minutes later by Nicolas Viola.
Dia’s first goals since August left Cagliari bottom of the division on three points, one point below Salernitana and Empoli who take on Fiorentina on Monday night.
