ROME, ITALY — The Olimpico witnessed a tense battle of attrition as fourth-placed AS Roma edged seventh-placed Como 1-0 in a Serie A encounter that remained goalless for an hour before Wesley finally broke the deadlock. The narrow victory pushed Roma to 30 points from their 10 wins this season, maintaining their position in the top four while Como's impressive campaign continued despite the setback.
The decisive moment arrived in the 60th minute when Wesley settled the nerves of the home supporters. Matías Soulé, who had been probing down the right flank throughout the evening, threaded a perfectly weighted pass into Wesley's path. The Brazilian made no mistake, drilling a right-footed shot from the right side of the box into the bottom left corner, leaving Como goalkeeper Jean Butez with no chance. The Olimpico erupted as Roma finally found the breakthrough their pressure had threatened.
The match evolved into a tactical chess match, with both sides refusing to yield control. Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné anchored Roma's midfield, though the latter was caught for handball in the 83rd minute as Como pressed for an equalizer. At the back, Gianluca Mancini earned a yellow card for his physical approach against Como's Martin Baturina, while Mario Hermoso stood firm in defence. Como's Nico Paz, booked in the 59th minute, proved a constant threat on the left wing, winning several free kicks and testing Roma's defensive discipline.
Roma dominated the statistical battle with 52.8 percent possession and fired 14 shots compared to Como's 13, though both sides managed just four shots on target apiece. The Giallorossi earned six corners to Como's three, yet struggled to convert their territorial advantage into clear-cut chances. Both teams committed three fouls each in a surprisingly clean contest, with only one yellow card shown to each side before the final whistle.
The turning point came in the 52nd minute when Evan Ferguson's effort from a difficult angle was saved by Butez, keeping the scores level. Just eight minutes later, Wesley punished Como's inability to clear their lines. The visitors threw everything forward in the closing stages, with substitute Stefan Posch forcing Mile Svilar into a fine save in the 75th minute, but Roma's goalkeeper stood firm. The final ten minutes descended into chaos as Wesley and Stephan El Shaarawy both collected yellow cards, while Jacobo Ramón was also booked in the 90th minute following a delay for injury.
Looking ahead, AS Roma will travel to face Juventus on December 20, while Como travel to face Lecce on December 27.