In a dramatic Serie A showdown on Sunday, AS Roma climbed to the summit of the Italian league table after securing a hard-fought 3-1 away victory against Cremonese.
The win at the Stadio Giovanni Zini propelled Roma to a two-point lead over Napoli, setting the stage perfectly before the highly anticipated Milan derby later that evening.
Roma's Clinical Finishing Secures Victory
Under the guidance of manager Gian Piero Gasperini, Roma displayed a newfound efficiency in front of goal, a welcome change for a team that had managed only 12 goals in their previous 11 league matches.
The deadlock was broken in the 17th minute by Matias Soule, who fired Roma into the lead. This came shortly after Cremonese's Federico Bonazzoli had been denied by a superb save from Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar.
The match remained tightly contested until two rapid-fire goals in the second half decided the outcome. Brighton loanee Evan Ferguson, scoring his first club goal in over a year, calmly found the net in the 64th minute after a scramble in the Cremonese penalty area.
Just moments later, Brazilian defender Wesley put the result beyond doubt, finishing a lightning-fast counter-attack with a delightful chip over goalkeeper Emil Audero.
Controversy and Consequence for Gasperini
The match was not without its drama and controversy. Near half-time, Roma defender Gianluca Mancini was initially penalized for a handball, but the decision was overturned following a VAR review.
Roma manager Gasperini, who was furious with the initial penalty call, was subsequently sent off for dissent shortly before Ferguson scored Roma's second goal. This red card means Gasperini will be suspended for Roma's massive upcoming fixture against champions Napoli next weekend.
Despite his dismissal, Gasperini was later seen celebrating exuberantly in the stands after Ferguson's goal, a crucial strike for the 21-year-old Irish international who has been struggling for fitness and with key attackers Paulo Dybala and Artem Dovbyk sidelined.
Looking Ahead: The Title Race Heats Up
With this victory, Roma continues its strong start under Gasperini and enters the conversation for a first league title since 2001.
After the match, Gasperini reflected on the team's position, stating, "I said yesterday that it’s only right to dream in these positions, even though in the end dreams rarely come true. We’re trying to keep the dream going for a little while longer."
He also expressed his happiness for Ferguson, adding, "I’m happy for Ferguson as he’d been waiting a long time for that goal but it was really important for us because he doubled our lead… When he scored we knew that we could win."
For Cremonese, a late consolation goal from Francesco Folino in stoppage time did little to change their fortunes, as they suffered their fourth defeat of the season and remain in 12th place.
Roma's time at the top, however, was contingent on the result of the Milan derby, where a win for Inter Milan would see them reclaim first place on goal difference.
