Substitute Pasalic's winner pulls Atalanta clear of Roma
Bergamo, Italy, Feb 15, 2020 (AFP) - Mario Pasalic scored the winner seconds after coming off the bench as Atalanta came from behind to beat Roma 2-1 and consolidate fourth place in Serie A on Saturday at the expense of their Champions League rivals from the capital.
The Croatian midfielder came on just before the hour mark in Bergamo to fire in the crucial goal 19 seconds later, to boost confidence ahead of his side's first ever Champions League last 16 game against Valencia at the San Siro next week.
Josip Ilicic had threatened after half an hour for the hosts, firing wide, with a Rafael Toloi overhead kick off target minutes later.
But it was Roma who broke through first with Edin Dzeko pouncing on a defending blunder from Jose Luis Palomino.
Dzeko dispossessed the centre-back to rifle in past a helpless Pierluigi Golini in the Atalanta goal.
Palomino made up for his earlier error just after the break volleying in the equaliser in an action started off a Papu Gomez corner.
On-loan Chelsea playmaker Pasalic came on for Duvan Zapata after 59 minutes and curled in to seal the three points.
Atalanta pull six points ahead of fifth-placed Roma, who fell to their third consecutive defeat for the first time this season.
Earlier, Bologna missed the chance to move into the Europa League berths finishing with nine men against Genoa who won 3-0 for their first away success in over a year.
Defender Adama Soumaoro scored in his second game for Genoa since his loan move from Lille, tapping in an Andrea Masiello's cross after 28 minutes.
Bologna's Jerdy Schouten was sent off minutes later for a dangerous tackle on Valon Behrami.
Antonio Sanabria got the second just before the break following a stunning run from his own half.
Bologna's woes were compounded when Stefano Denswil was sent off for a second yellow card late with Domenico Criscito converting from the spot on 90 minutes as Genoa got their first win on the road since January 2019.
Luigi Biagio's first game as SPAL coach ended in a 2-1 loss at Lecce.
Juventus return to their home comforts of Turin on Sunday, after a poor away run, hosting struggling Brescia with top spot in Serie A at stake as title rivals Inter Milan and Lazio go head-to-head in Rome.