After 13 rounds of Serie A, AS Roma finally recorded it’s first draw of the season. Jose Mourinho’s men so far had only wins (8) or defeats (4) and tonight, they were closer to the ninth triumph, but Tammy Abraham’s header in the 80th minute was nullified five minutes later by the home team, who played an equal match with the guests all night and didn’t deserve to lose. Both clubs tried their best and missed at least two great chances apiece so the final score is not what Mourinho wanted, but it’s a fair one: Sassuolo – Roma 1-1. Captain Lorenzo Pellegrini joined the already crowded injury room and he was the only forced substitution from Jose Mourinho. The Portuguese decided to leave Karsdorp, Camara and Abraham on the bench and instead Celik, Volpato and Shomurodov got the nod. Considering both teams’ style of play this season, this was bound to be a 0-0 halftime. Both set of players were just running between the two penalty areas in the opening minutes, but eventually, the game developed into something interesting, but still ineffective. Frattesi had the first chance with an absolute scorcher just outside the area, but Rui Patricio saved it just in time. Roma also had their minutes of fame, but Shomurodov squandered the best chance of the game with a weak shot directly at the keeper. The Uzbek striker was desperate to show he was worth a rare start, but failed to deliver. Zalewski was unmarked at the back post minutes later, but his volley was over the bar. The second half was basically a copy/paste version of the first 45 minutes, but luckily, we saw two goals. Both clubs ‘closed’ down as the game went on, and then a massive chance was missed by Sassuolo’s Traore, who had the same chance as Shomurodov in the first half, and the result was the same – a great keeper save, this time from Rui Patricio. Gianluca Mancini’s cross in the 80th minute finally led to the first goal of the game, as Tammy Abraham’s header finished in Sassoulo’s net. And just as the home fans thought that this will be a punishment for missed chances throughout the game, Laurentie made another sprint near the sideline, passed the ball to the center, and Pinamonti finished in front of Smalling for the final 1-1.SERIE A – ROUND 14TuesdayNapoli – Empoli 2-0 (0-0)/Lozano 69(p), Zielinski 88/Spezia – Udinese 1-1 (1-1)/Reca 33 – Lovric 43/Cremonese – Milan 0-0WednesdayLecce – Atalanta 2-1 (2-1)/Baschirotto 28, Di Francesco 30 – Zapata 40/Sassuolo – Roma 1-1 (0-0)/Pinamonti 85 – Abraham 80/22:45: (1.55) Fiorentina (4.20) Salernitana (7.00)22:45: (1.38) Inter (5.60) Bologna (9.00)22:45: (1.73) Torino (3.60) Sampdoria (6.00)Thursday20:30: (5.70) Verona (3.80) Juventus (1.70)22:45: (1.65) Lazio (4.00) Monza (5.90)***odds are subject to change***********************************************************
