Roma’s Diego Perotti (left) celebrates with teammate Stephan El Shaarawy after scoring against Sampdoria in their Italian League match at Rome’s Olympic stadium on Sunday. Roma won 2-1. — AP
Roma’s Diego Perotti (left) celebrates with teammate Stephan El Shaarawy after scoring against Sampdoria in their Italian League match at Rome’s Olympic stadium on Sunday. Roma won 2-1. — AP
On-loan Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny produced late heroics as Roma held on to snatch a 2-1 win at home to Sampdoria on Sunday and maintain their bid for a place in Europe next season.
Edin Dzeko started on the bench and Radja Nainggolan was suspended for the visit of Sampdoria, whose coach Vincenzo Montella was once a hugely popular striker with the club.
But with Sampdoria still struggling to kickstart their season following Montella’s recent arrival, the hosts were rarely troubled in a one-sided opening period that saw Alessandro Florenzi’s header break the deadlock on the stroke of half-time.
Diego Perotti doubled the lead with a superb volley minutes after the restart to claim his maiden Roma goal, but when Joaquin Correa’s deflected shot trickled past Szczesny soon after, Roma’s confidence dropped.
Roma remain in fifth at 12 points behind leaders Napoli, but after Fiorentina and Inter Milan drew with Bologna and Verona respectively, Spalletti’s men are one point behind Inter and two behind Fiorentina in third.
“We should have settled things much earlier in the match, but we held on for our third consecitive win and we’ve moved even closer to our rival for the Champions League, so we have to be happy,” Spalletti told Sky Sport.
