Roma 2, Verona o: Dovbyk Delivers Victory Over Mastiffs

If you peel back enough layers of this current iteration of AS Roma, you can see the hallmarks of a typical Gian Piero Gasperini team: pressing, intensity, and a focus on vertical movement. However, where the rubber meets the road—the actual results on the pitch—the Giallorossi remain a latter-day Claudio Ranieri squad: well-organized, risk-averse, and results-driven; substance over style.

Still, facing a Hellas Verona team that hasn’t beaten Roma in the Italian capital in over 50 years, and with the Giallorossi off to their best start in three seasons, today’s Round 5 fixture had the makings of a blowout. And with Brazilian wing-back Wesley back from a bout of the flu, Gasperini’s group was nearly in full forces as they welcomed the Mastiffs to the Wolves’ den.

Almost immediately, Roma seemed ready to deliver on that promise, launching a potentially game-changing counterattack and winning two setpieces within the first seven minutes alone. Sure, they bottled those chances, but the signs of intent were clear: Gasperini wanted to put Verona out of its misery early and often.

We’ve seen good intentions go for naught too many times in these spaces, but Roma fans didn’t have to wait long for the club to find paydirt.

In his first start of the young season, Artem Dovbyk put Roma ahead in only the 7th minute by redirecting a Zeki Celik cross toward the far post. Dovbyk’s goal, the first by a Roma striker this season, didn’t lead to a flood of goals. Still, it was a huge relief for the Ukrainian striker and the tens of thousands of fans in attendance.

However, in what is becoming a troubling trend early this season, Roma relented after taking an early lead, opening the door for a Verona comeback. With Verona finding gaps in Gasperini’s defense with increasingly regularity, the visitors came a face away from leveling the match. And if that phrase sounds strange or overly literal, it’s because, well, it is.

In the 15th minute, Verona forward Gift Orban broke free in the final third, drifting across the face of the goal before unleashing a shot at the far post. With Svilar giving chase, Roma’s number 99 dove desperately to his right, blocking Orban’s potential equalizer with his face and earning the crowd’s appreciation along with a small welt on his forehead in the process.

After trading blows for the ensuing 15 minutes, Orban once again had the match in his hands, slipping behind the Roma defense in the 29th minute, only to see his attempt clang off the crossbar, saving the capital club from a moment of disgrace.

Roma managed to stem the tide of Verona’s advances late in the first half. Still, given their somewhat lackadaisical approach to defending, victory was far from guaranteed.

With another sluggish start to the new half, Roma continued to tempt fate in the defensive third. An errant Gianluca Mancini clearance nearly gifted a goal to Verona striker Giovane, who couldn’t convert on Mancini’s error, sparing Roma once more.

Gasperini’s team would eventually recover and tighten up those loose ends. Still, with the club holding onto a one-goal advantage, Verona smelled blood in the water, firing seven shots at Svilar in the second half alone. With 15 minutes plus stoppage time left, the Mastiffs had every chance to steal two crucial points from Roma, keeping Giallorossi fans on the edge of their seats—old habits die hard, after all.

And just when it seemed like Roma was ready to leave the door open for a late surrender, Matías Soulé brought the house down in the 79th minute.

It wasn’t the craftiest goal we’ve seen Soulé score during his brief time in the capital, but he did well to shadow Evan Ferguson and Manu Koné, putting himself in prime position to convert the Frenchman’s layoff in the area. And while Verona nearly pulled a goal back in stoppage time—an Orban “header” that was disallowed after VAR ruled he used his shoulder/arm to redirect the ball—Roma was finally able to relax and bask in the glory of another Stadio Olimpico victory.

Final Thoughts

With today’s win, Roma makes it four wins in five tries, finishing Round 5 with 12 points, momentarily standing neck and neck with league-leading Napoli. Even if Antonio Conte’s club defeats Milan later today, the Giallorossi will be no worse than second place. While Gasperini’s attack remains woefully inefficient, Roma’s defense remains the strength of this team, throttling nearly every opponent they’ve faced thus far. If Gasp can get his attack cooking, Roma may find a permanent home in the top four.

Up Next

Roma returns to Europa League play when they host Lille on Thursday, October 2nd.