Giovanni Simeone’s sensational curler gave Torino a shock victory away to Roma, as Gian Piero Gasperini’s tactical experiment failed.
The Giallorossi won both games 1-0 against Pisa and Bologna, but gave Paulo Dybala his first start in a more advanced role, benching both Evan Ferguson and Artem Dovbyk, with Leon Bailey still injured, but Wesley was passed fit after a muscular issue. Toro also changed tactics to a 3-4-3 with Ardian Ismajli’s debut, still missing Zanos Savva and Perr Schuurs after a 5-0 defeat to Inter and 0-0 with Fiorentina.
See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.
Mile Svilar struggled to fingertip a dangerous set Kristjan Asllani corner off the head of Guillermo Maripan, while Gianluca Mancini didn’t get enough power on his header to surprise Franco Israel.
A decisive Maripan sliding tackle prevented Dybala going clear on the intelligent Matias Soulé through ball and another Mario Hermoso header found Israel prepared.
Roma were struggling with this tactical experiment, so Gian Piero Gasperini transformed the strikers at half-time. Ferguson laid off a Soulé ball for Tommaso Baldanzi to scuff wide from the edge of the area, then the Irish striker did the same from a Wesley assist.
It was Torino who opened the scoring instead with the first goal conceded by the Giallorossi this season. Simeone created it, skinning Manu Koné at the touchline to go on the counter, then getting the return pass from Cyril Ngonge to curl right-footed into the far top corner from the edge of the area. It was Cholito’s first Serie A goal in over a year.
Soulé came close with a curler just wide from a similar position, but it should’ve been 2-0 when Nikola Vlasic pulled back from the by-line for Zakaria Aboukhlal’s first-time finish from eight yards, forcing a remarkable reaction save from Svilar.
The Roma goalkeeper kept his men in it with another excellent save, getting down quickly to palm the Vlasic daisy-cutter away from an Ivan Ilic pull-back.
Gianluca Mancini’s finish was deflected into the arms of Israel, while Niccolò Pisilli’s header at the back post from a Ferguson flicked corner was straight at the goalkeeper from close range.
Deep into stoppages, Soulé saw his half-volley skim the far stick from a Mancini knock-down, while Stephan El Shaarawy’s acrobatic volley was smothered by Israel.
Roma 0-1 Torino
Simeone 59 (T)
Player statistic
| 32' |  |
Kristjan Asllani | ||
| 35' | |
Ardian Ismajli |
| Wesley | |
52' | ||
| 59' |  |
Giovanni Simeone (Assist: Cyril Ngonge) | ||
| Angeliño | |
77' | ||
| 81' | |
Zakaria Aboukhlal |
Match statistic
Another strangely worded title. A ‘shocker’ usually described a blunder. A mishap. A defensive mistake. A penalty miss etc. ‘Simeone wonder goal shocks Gasperini’ is more accurate.