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Italian young sensation Volpato fires Roma past 10-man Verona and into top four
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Roma's Cristian Volpato (R) celebrates with teammate Andrea Belotti during their clash with Hellas Verona at the Marcantonio Bentegodi stadium in Verona, Italy, October 31, 2022. /CFP
Roma's Cristian Volpato (R) celebrates with teammate Andrea Belotti during their clash with Hellas Verona at the Marcantonio Bentegodi stadium in Verona, Italy, October 31, 2022. /CFP

Roma's Cristian Volpato (R) celebrates with teammate Andrea Belotti during their clash with Hellas Verona at the Marcantonio Bentegodi stadium in Verona, Italy, October 31, 2022. /CFP

Cristian Volpato shot Roma into the top four of Serie A on Monday with a late strike and assist in a 3-1 win at Verona which moved his team above Lazio a week before the Rome derby.

Jose Mourinho's team were level heading into the final two minutes at the Stadio Bentegodi but 18-year-old Volpato met Nemanja Matic's low cross with a perfect first time finish to put the away side ahead.

Australia-born Volpato then ensured Roma would take three points when he slid in Stephan El Shaarawy to net a third in stoppage-time with a perfect through ball.

"The manager called me up, I hadn't even warmed up or anything. I'm really happy to have come, score and change the match," said a delighted Volpato after his first appearance of the campaign.

Roma are a point ahead of Lazio and Inter Milan in fourth place, with the clash against their local rivals, who will be without Ciro Immobile and suspended Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, coming up on Sunday. 

Roma's Stephan El Shaarawy jumps over the advertising hoardings after scoring a wonder goal during their clash with Hellas Verona at the Marcantonio Bentegodi stadium in Verona, Italy, October 31, 2022. /CFP
Roma's Stephan El Shaarawy jumps over the advertising hoardings after scoring a wonder goal during their clash with Hellas Verona at the Marcantonio Bentegodi stadium in Verona, Italy, October 31, 2022. /CFP

Roma's Stephan El Shaarawy jumps over the advertising hoardings after scoring a wonder goal during their clash with Hellas Verona at the Marcantonio Bentegodi stadium in Verona, Italy, October 31, 2022. /CFP

Nicolo Zaniolo tapped Roma level in first-half stoppage time after Pawel Dawidowicz was sent off for the home side nine minutes before the break.

Dawidowicz was given a straight red card for a bad foul on Zaniolo nine minutes after he had rolled ahead the hosts, who stay in the relegation zone after their seventh defeat in a row.

Mourinho insisted that he was not interested in the Rome derby, a huge event in the Italian capital which traditionally occupies fans for weeks beforehand.

Roma need to beat Ludogorets on Thursday to make the knockout rounds of the Europa League.

"When a manager starts thinking about a particular match which isn't the upcoming one, it doesn't usually end well," Mourinho told DAZN.

Monza players are seen wearing a special t-shirt for their teammate Pablo Mari prior to their clash with Bologna FC at Stadio Brianteo in Monza, Italy, October 31, 2022. /CFP
Monza players are seen wearing a special t-shirt for their teammate Pablo Mari prior to their clash with Bologna FC at Stadio Brianteo in Monza, Italy, October 31, 2022. /CFP

Monza players are seen wearing a special t-shirt for their teammate Pablo Mari prior to their clash with Bologna FC at Stadio Brianteo in Monza, Italy, October 31, 2022. /CFP

Later on Monday, Monza host Bologna in their first match since on-loan Arsenal defender Pablo Mari was stabbed in a knife attack at a supermarket just outside Milan.

Monza chief executive Adriano Galliani had asked for the match to be postponed but instead Rafaelle Palladino's team will play and wear a special shirt with the message "Come back soon Pablo."

Mari was one of several people attacked in Assago by a man apparently suffering from psychological problems who killed an employee from the supermarket after grabbing a knife from a shelf.

Four other people were hurt by a 46-year-old Italian who was arrested by police, shortly after being disarmed by former Napoli and Inter Milan defender Massimo Tarantino.

Source(s): AFP

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