Roma suffered a surprising 2-1 defeat at home against Empoli in a match filled with missed opportunities and defensive errors. The Giallorossi hit the woodwork three times, including a last-minute effort from Paulo Dybala that struck the inside of the post.
Empoli took the lead in the first half when Emmanuel Gyasi capitalized on a cross from Giuseppe Pezzella, tapping in at the far post. The visitors doubled their advantage early in the second half after Leandro Paredes conceded a penalty, which Lorenzo Colombo converted confidently.
Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, Roma struggled to find the back of the net. Lorenzo Pellegrini and Gianluca Mancini both hit the crossbar in quick succession early in the second half. Dybala, who recently turned down a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia to stay with Roma, saw his efforts either saved or narrowly miss the target.
The home side finally broke through late in the game when substitute Eldor Shomurodov headed in a cross from Tommaso Baldanzi. However, Roma couldn’t find an equalizer despite intense pressure in the closing minutes.
This defeat is a significant setback for Roma’s ambitions this season, while Empoli secured a valuable away victory to boost their campaign. The result highlights Roma’s ongoing struggles with consistency and finishing, issues that manager Daniele De Rossi will need to address quickly to keep the team’s objectives on track.
Goals: Gyasi 45 (E), Colombo pen 61 (E), Shomurodov 80 (R)
Roma (4-3-2-1): Svilar; Celik (dal 46′ Zalewski), Mancini, N’Dicka, Angelino; Cristante (dal 63′ Le Fee), Paredes (dal 63′ Baldanzi), Pellegrini; Dybala, Soulé (dal 77′ Shomurodov); Dovbyk. All. De Rossi
Empoli (3-4-2-1): Vasquez; Walukiewicz, Ismajli, Viti; Gyasi, Henderson, Maleh (dal 63′ Haas), Pezzella (dal 63′ Cacace); Fazzini (dall’88’ Stojanovic), Solbakken (dal 59′ Esposito); Colombo (dall’87’ Ekong). All. D’Aversa
