Roma Edge Past 10-Man Como to Climb to Eighth in Serie A

AS Roma came from behind to beat Como 2-1 in Serie A, with Artem Dovbyk scoring the winner to lift Roma to eighth in the table.

AS Roma extended their unbeaten league run to 11 games with a hard-fought 2-1 comeback victory over in-form Como at the Stadio Olimpico. The win also marked Roma's 12th consecutive home match without defeat against their opponents. Despite both teams being in good form, the early stages of the match saw them largely cancel each other out.

The first genuine scoring opportunity fell to Como's Ivan Smolcic, who cleverly created space on the edge of the box but ultimately shot wide. At the other end, Roma's Paulo Dybala forced Como goalkeeper Jean Butez into a spectacular reaction save from close range, which proved to be the best chance of the half for the hosts. However, it was Como who broke the deadlock before half-time, courtesy of Lucas Da Cunha's tap-in from Maximo Perrone's assist.

Como's goal gave them a narrow lead at the break, but Roma eventually turned the match around in the second half, thanks in part to the contributions of substitute Oleksandr Dovbyk. Despite the setback, Roma's victory maintains their strong recent form and keeps them in contention for a top-four finish in Serie A.

The Stadio Olimpico was left stunned when Como scored a shock goal, sending a shockwave through the stadium. Notably, the visitors had only managed to score three away goals before half-time previously this season, the lowest tally in the division. This unexpected strike put Como in a promising position, but they were unable to capitalize on their advantage.

A second-half comeback win for Roma! 🔥#RomaComo pic.twitter.com/Y9LgdVBWIC

— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) March 2, 2025

As the match approached the hour mark, Como had a gilt-edged opportunity to double their lead. Patrick Cutrone found himself unmarked in the box, but his shot lacked precision, allowing Mile Svilar to make a smart save. This missed chance would ultimately prove costly for the visitors, as Roma soon equalized.

The equalizing goal came courtesy of Alexis Saelemaekers, who collected the ball in the area before unleashing an unstoppable strike into the roof of the net. This goal marked Saelemaekers' sixth goal contribution in 2025, the highest tally in the Roma squad. The momentum shifted dramatically in Roma's favor, and Como's fortunes took a turn for the worse.

Alexis Saelemaekers is the Panini Player of the Match 🏆#RomaComo pic.twitter.com/qgsHuyUe7Z

— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) March 2, 2025

Como's woes were compounded when Marc-Oliver Kempf received his second yellow card, resulting in his dismissal from the game. The drama continued to unfold as 10-man Como thought they had regained the lead, but Assane Diao's goal was disallowed due to offside. Instead, Roma took the lead when Devyne Rensch provided a pinpoint pass to Artem Dovbyk in the area, and the Ukrainian striker found the bottom corner with ease.

Despite being down to 10 men, Como refused to give up and almost found an equalizer through Mergim Vojvoda, who struck the post with a powerful shot from outside the area. However, Roma's defense held firm, and they managed to secure a crucial 2-1 victory. This win propels Roma up to eighth place in the table, just four points shy of the European qualification spots.

The defeat denied Como the opportunity to achieve a rare feat – winning three consecutive top-flight games for the first time since 1952. Nevertheless, the visitors can take comfort in their current position, boasting a six-point and five-place cushion above the relegation zone. This buffer provides some breathing room for Como as they seek to consolidate their place in the top flight.