Serie A: Bologna Secure Hard-Fought Win Over Torino

Thijs Dallinga scored with his first touch after coming off the bench, securing a 1-0 win for Bologna over Torino.

Bologna continued their impressive run of form, securing six victories in their last eight matches, as they edged past Torino courtesy of goals from super-sub Thijs Dallinga and Tommaso Pobega. The win was all the more impressive given that Bologna had missed an early penalty, but they demonstrated their resilience to claim the three points.

Torino had finally broken their six-game winless streak with a narrow 1-0 victory away to Empoli in their previous outing. However, they were forced to make do without the suspended Saul Coco, while key players Duvan Zapata, Zanos Savva, Perr Schuurs, and Emirhan Ilkhan were all sidelined through injury.

Bologna entered the match in high spirits, having recently defeated Fiorentina. Although they were missing Michel Aebischer, Dan Ndoye, and Nicolò Cambiaghi due to injury, the return of Riccardo Orsolini provided a welcome boost to their lineup. The Rossoblu's fine form and squad depth ultimately proved too much for Torino to handle.

Borna Sosa squandered a promising opportunity when he volleyed a Marcus Pedersen cross wide of the target, failing to capitalize on the chance. However, Torino's concerns soon shifted to the well-being of Sebastian Walukiewicz, who was stretchered off the pitch after experiencing breathing difficulties.

Torino's defense was stretched to the limit as Yann Karamoh latched onto a through ball from Guillermo Maripan, only for Sam Beukema to intervene just in time, preventing Karamoh from getting a shot away. The pressure continued to build as Remo Freuler delivered a low cross into the six-yard box, prompting some frantic defending from the Torino backline.

In another nervy moment for Torino, Freuler's subsequent cross was met by a diving header from Castro, which was turned wide of the post. The Bologna attack continued to probe for weaknesses in the Torino defense, pushing for a breakthrough.

Bologna intensified their pressure on the hour mark, as Tommaso Pobega unleashed a powerful long-range shot that thundered against the underside of the crossbar, only to rebound back out. The near-miss served as a warning, as Bologna's dominance threatened to pay dividends.

Just moments later, Bologna's profligacy almost proved costly, as Jhon Lucumi burst forward, collecting a Samuele Ricci shot from the edge of the area. However, Bologna's fortunes were about to change dramatically.

The turning point arrived when Thijs Dallinga was introduced off the bench. In a stunning impact, Dallinga scored with his very first touch, just 42 seconds after entering the game. He cleverly positioned himself behind Adam Masina, tapping in a precise Juan Miranda assist from six yards out. The goal marked Dallinga's maiden strike for the club, and it proved to be the decisive moment in the match.