AS Roma closed the gap on Serie A leaders Inter Milan with a 2-0 win over Sassuolo, thanks to late goals from Ismaël Koné and Matías Soulé.
Roma had to wait until the second half to break the deadlock, but two goals in three minutes secured a crucial victory.
Roma dominated the early exchanges, with Paulo Dybala testing Sassuolo goalkeeper Arijanet Muric with an early curling effort. However, the visitors held firm, and the first half remained goalless, with Sassuolo failing to score before half-time for the 14th time in 20 league games.
The hosts made a purposeful start to the second half, but it was Roma who finally broke through, courtesy of Koné’s header from Soulé’s cross. The momentum shifted in Roma’s favor, and Soulé sealed the win with a clever finish.
The victory marks Roma’s fourth consecutive win against Sassuolo and maintains their status as the league’s tightest defense, having conceded just 12 goals in 20 games. The win lifts Roma to within three points of leaders Inter Milan, albeit with two extra games played.
Sassuolo, on the other hand, remains 12th in the table, well clear of relegation trouble but looking unlikely to make a European push. The visitors have been winless in six league games, with three draws and three losses.
Roma’s win was hard-earned, and manager Gian Piero Gasperini will be disappointed with his team’s performance, particularly their inability to score in the first half. However, the Giallorossi will take confidence from their late show and look to build on this momentum.
