Mario Hermoso and Matías Soulé struck in the closing minutes as Roma overturned Éderson’s opener to preserve their perfect start to the Serie A season.
Roma produced a remarkable late comeback to defeat Atalanta 2-1 at the Stadio Olimpico and collect their third consecutive Serie A victory.
Éderson put the visitors ahead immediately after halftime, but Mario Hermoso equalized in the 90th minute before Soulé completed the turnaround three minutes later.
After opening the season with consecutive 4-0 victories over Fiorentina and Lecce, Gian Piero Gasperini’s side now have nine points from nine, with 10 goals scored and only one conceded.
Roma dominate but Carnesecchi keeps Atalanta level
Gasperini selected the attacking trio of Paulo Dybala, Rodrigo Mora and Donyell Malen, while Evan Ndicka returned to the center of the defence. The complete team selection can be found in our official Roma starting XI article.
Roma controlled much of the opening half and repeatedly tested Marco Carnesecchi. The Atalanta goalkeeper denied Gianluca Mancini’s header before producing another important save from Bryan Cristante.
Malen was presented with Roma’s clearest opportunity before halftime, but Carnesecchi reacted brilliantly to prevent the Dutch forward from extending his five-goal start to the season.
Atalanta offered little attacking threat during the opening 45 minutes, with Mile Svilar comfortably dealing with Gianluca Scamacca’s attempt from outside the penalty area. Despite Roma’s territorial dominance, the teams entered halftime level at 0-0.
Éderson punishes Roma after halftime
Atalanta took the lead only two minutes after the restart.
Charles De Ketelaere won his individual battle with Hermoso before the loose ball reached Éderson. The Brazilian midfielder reacted quickly and drove a powerful right-footed finish beyond Svilar to silence the Olimpico.
Roma responded immediately, forcing Carnesecchi into another save through Manu Koné. Gasperini then introduced Nahuel Molina and Soulé for Emanuele Lulli and Mora as he searched for a way back into the match.
Santiago Castro later replaced Malen and came agonizingly close to equalizing. The Argentine striker struck the post before seeing another header rebound off the crossbar as Atalanta continued to survive.
Hermoso and Soulé transform the match
Roma’s pressure finally produced its reward in the 90th minute.
Soulé delivered the corner and Hermoso rose inside the penalty area to direct his header beyond Carnesecchi, making amends for his involvement in Atalanta’s opening goal.
The Giallorossi refused to settle for a point. Three minutes later, Soulé received the ball from Dybala, moved into the penalty area and beat Carnesecchi at his near post to complete an extraordinary turnaround beneath the Curva Sud.
The two goals arrived only three minutes apart and gave Roma a victory that had appeared unlikely moments earlier. Lega Serie A’s official match report also highlighted Carnesecchi’s numerous saves before Roma finally broke Atalanta’s resistance.
Roma Daily Player of the Match: Matías Soulé
Matías Soulé is Roma Daily’s Player of the Match.
The Argentine entered in the 54th minute and completely changed the contest. He delivered the corner for Hermoso’s equalizer before scoring the dramatic winner in stoppage time.
Soulé provided the creativity, courage and decisive quality Roma had been missing. His goal and assist transformed a potential first defeat of the campaign into another memorable victory for Gasperini’s side.
Carnesecchi received the highest Sofascore rating of the match at 9.1 after producing a series of outstanding saves, but Soulé was unquestionably Roma’s decisive player. Sky Sport also selected the Argentine as its best player following his match-winning intervention.
Roma preserve their perfect start
Roma’s performance was not as clinical as the 4-0 victory over Lecce, but the result demonstrated another important side of Gasperini’s team.
The Giallorossi remained patient after falling behind, continued creating chances and received an important contribution from the substitutes. Molina added energy on the right, Castro repeatedly threatened the Atalanta goal and Soulé ultimately decided the match.
Roma now turn their attention to Thursday’s Champions League opener against Fenerbahçe in Istanbul with their perfect domestic record intact.
Final score: Roma 2-1 Atalanta
Goals: Éderson 47′; Hermoso 90′, Soulé 90+3′
RomaDaily Player of the Match: Matías Soulé
Source: AS Roma, Lega Serie A, Sofascore
Leave a Reply