Roma claimed a 4-2 triumph against Cagliari in Serie A, weathering a second-half comeback from the hosts before Donyell Malen and Rodrigo Mora scored to decide the match. The Giallorossi had to battle for the three points, as their opponents looked capable of flipping the game after drawing level.
The outcome brought some relief to Paulo Dybala’s team following a tough stretch of league matches, while Cagliari’s poor form persisted even though they showed plenty of attacking ambition to cause problems for the away side.
Roma responds after early Cagliari spot kick
Roma came into the match having recorded only one win in their last four Serie A outings, with draws against Inter, Como, and Napoli during a period marred by numerous injuries. Paulo Dybala, Mile Svilar, Manu Koné, and Lorenzo Pellegrini were still sidelined, and the lineup was rotated following the 3-3 stalemate at the Stadio Maradona.
Gianluca Mancini forced Elia Caprile into an early save with a angled strike that the keeper blocked with his foot. Cagliari hit back through M’Bala Nzola, whose close-range attempt was thwarted by a well-timed intervention from Konstantinos Koulierakis.
The opening goal arrived from the ensuing corner. Ze Pedro’s diving header made contact with Niccolò Pisilli’s hand from close distance, and after a VAR check a penalty was awarded. Nzola converted confidently, sending Pierluigi Gollini the wrong direction to give Cagliari the lead.
Emanuele Lulli and Pisilli flip the contest
Roma wasted little time in responding, as Nahuel Molina whipped in a cross to the back post where Emanuele Lulli powered a header in from six yards. Adam Obert was taken by surprise as the visitors pulled level.
The Giallorossi continued pressing for a second, with Santiago Castro unable to steer Lulli’s ball on target. Cagliari survived that scare, but the warning became costly when Lulli sent in another cross from the right and Pisilli was there to convert, completing Roma’s comeback.
Matias Soulé almost caught Caprile off guard with an in-swinging set piece that needed to be cleared off the line. Cagliari stayed threatening, though, and Gollini had to pull off a stunning one-handed stop to keep out Michel Adopo before Nzola’s rebound was diverted wide.
Cagliari respond as Roma come under renewed pressure
The home side kept pushing forward, with Nzola squandering another decent chance and Alessandro Deiola forcing Gollini to tip a fierce strike over the bar. The Roma shot-stopper also reacted sharply to deny Alieu Fadera’s attempt at the near post.
Down the other end, Malen just failed to reach a Wesley delivery after linking up with Soulé, while Gollini pushed Juan Rodriguez’s effort over the crossbar. He then kept out Daniel Maldini after the forward was released by Paul Mendy, but Roma were unable to hold Cagliari off.
Obert held off Devyne Rensch before threading a perfectly weighted pass to Maldini. Maldini converted from a tight angle to level at 2-2, putting Roma’s advantage in jeopardy and setting up an anxious closing period.
Malen and Rodrigo Mora clinch Roma’s win
Roma reacted swiftly after conceding. Daniele Ghilardi surged down the right flank and whipped a cross to the far post, where Rodrigo Mora, the smallest player on the field, climbed to head the visitors back into the lead.
The pivotal moment came shortly after. Malen played a quick one-two with Mora before finishing, with his shot squirming under the goalkeeper to hand Roma a two-goal advantage.
Cagliari still had chances to threaten through Yael Trepy, who returned to action after nearly drowning on August 17 and spending time in intensive care. He immediately tested Gollini with a powerful solo run, but the keeper produced another difficult save as Roma secured a 4-2 victory.