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| Late El Shaarawy Strike Seals Victory for Roma against 10-Man Monza |
Serie A | Roma 1-0 Monza: Late El Shaarawy Strike Seals Victory
Roma had to wait until the 90th minute to finally break down 10-man Monza after hitting the woodwork twice, as Stephan El Shaarawy got the winner. The Giallorossi had Diego Llorente available on the bench, but Paulo Dybala, Chris Smalling, Renato Sanches, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Tammy Abraham, and Marash Kumbulla were still on the treatment table. Monza lost new signing Papu Gomez to a two-year doping ban, with Patrick Ciurria, Gianluca Caprari, and Armando Izzo injured.
It took until the 36th minute to have a genuine attempt on goal from either side, Andrea Belotti floating a cross from the right for the Houssem Aouar header, which was well parried under the bar by Michele Di Gregorio from close range.
Monza went down to 10 men just before half-time, as Danilo D’Ambrosio received his second yellow card, both of them for going through the back of Andrea Belotti. Belotti almost scored moments later with a diving header at the back post, Di Gregorio saving on the line with his feet.
After the restart, Andrea Colpani’s curler from distance skimmed the far top corner, and Leandro Paredes was fortunate to avoid a yellow card – which would’ve seen him suspended for the Inter trip – for a barge on Samuele Birindelli.
It was Birindelli who then forced a flying save out of Rui Patricio with a scorching strike from the edge of the area, while Romelu Lukaku clipped the outside of the near post with his effort.
Samuele Vignato’s impressive cross-field pass sent Birindelli clear down the right to test Rui Patricio again, then Pablo Mari charged down both Stephan El Shaarawy and Lukaku attempts in the same move.
Vignato had a good impact off the bench, seeing his solo run deflected for a corner, and Roma rattled the frame of the goal again with Sardar Azmoun off the upright when Lukaku held up the ball.
The deadlock was finally broken at the 90th minute when Azmoun’s effort was charged down, and El Shaarawy was ready to fire in the rebound on the volley from 12 yards with his right boot. The player had quite a week, taking legal action against allegations he was involved in illegal gambling. **Jose Mourinho** showed what that late goal meant too, celebrating wildly on the touchline.
However, he then got a little too into the moment, sent off in stoppages for bickering with Raffaele Palladino’s Monza staff, making a ‘boo hoo’ crying gesture. He will, therefore, likely be suspended for the return to San Siro against Inter.
Giulio Donati forced one last save from Rui Patricio, as Monza refused to give in.
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