Cesc Fabregas’ Como produced a statement victory to reclaim their place in the Serie A top four, coming from a goal down to beat AS Roma 2-1 in a match that saw the visitors reduced to ten men.
Roma made a lively start despite having played on Thursday night, taking the lead inside 10 minutes. Sergi Roberto’s careless square pass across his own box was pounced on by Stephan El Shaarawy, who was tripped by Diego Carlos, and Donyell Malen converted the resulting penalty with confidence. It was the January signing’s seventh Serie A goal, more than any other Roma player this season.
Como controlled much of the first half but were repeatedly denied by goalkeeper Mile Svilar, who made sharp saves to keep out Nico Paz and Alex Valle, while Jacobo Ramon’s improvised effort clipped the post. The hosts’ best chance of the half fell in stoppage time when Maxence Caqueret rounded Svilar and cut back for Paz, only for the Como talisman to blaze over.
Fabregas made a double change at half-time, bringing on Anastasios Douvikas, and the Greek striker had an immediate impact. Within 15 minutes of his introduction, he timed his run perfectly onto a Valle through ball and drilled a powerful effort through Svilar’s legs to level the scores.
Roma’s afternoon worsened when Wesley Franca was sent off for a second yellow card, having committed two fouls in the space of 20 minutes. Como pressed relentlessly but Svilar and his defence stood firm, limiting the hosts to efforts from range.
The winning goal came from an unlikely source. Carlos, who had given away the opening penalty, made amends by sweeping home on the rebound after Svilar had denied Ivan Smolcic.
The victory gave Como four consecutive league wins for the first time this season. Roma, by contrast, have won just two of their last 10 games in all competitions and head into the second leg of their Europa League last-16 tie against Bologna on Thursday in poor form.
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