Bojan helps resurgent Roma beat Atalanta
Reuters - Saturday 01 October 2011, 18:27
ROME - AS Roma resisted a second-half
fightback from promoted Atalanta to win 3-1 at the Stadio
Olimpico on Saturday as Luis Enrique's side secured a second
successive victory to move joint top of Serie A.
Striker Bojan opened the scoring on 20 minutes, grabbing his
first goal in the Giallorossi shirt with a left-foot shot before
Argentine forward Pablo Osvaldo doubled the lead with a cool
finish as Roma dominated the opening period.
The second half was a different story, Argentine forward
German Denis halving the deficit with a header from a
well-worked corner on 48 minutes.
The home side were then made to defend until midfielder
Simplicio finished neatly to make the game safe on 81 minutes.
Atalanta have four points from five games after suffering
their first defeat of the season.
The visitors, who with three wins and a draw would have been
top if they had not been docked six points for alleged
match-fixing, began on the attack as forward Maxi Moralez shot
straight at keeper Bogdan Lobont after being sent clear by
Denis.
The early chance seemed to spark Roma into life and Osvaldo
had two close-range efforts saved before Atalanta keeper Andrea
Consigli was again called into action to turn aside a swerving
25-metre effort from Francesco Totti.
SUBLIME CHIP
Roma, looking increasingly comfortable with coach Luis
Enrique's high-tempo philosophy, took the lead when the superb
Daniele De Rossi found Bojan with a sublime chip and the former
Barcelona forward finished sweetly into the bottom corner.
Bojan, recalled after an indifferent start for his new club,
almost grabbed a second 10 minutes later as he clipped the bar
with a vicious shot from a tight angle.
However, rampant Roma only had to wait a few more seconds
before doubling their advantage.
Osvaldo, left alone inside the box after springing the
offside trap, sidestepped Consigli and coolly slotted into the
empty net for his third league goal of the season.
Miralem Pjanic, with a volley, and Totti, hitting the post
with a cheeky inswinging corner, came close to a third goal
before Atalanta hit back.
A short corner was whipped towards the back post where Denis
outjumped Gabriel Heinze and planted a firm header into the top
corner for his fourth goal of the season.
The away side swarmed forward as Roma's pace slackened but
were unable to create any clear-cut chances and were hit on the
counter-attack nine minutes from time when Brazilian Simplicio
netted after running on to Pjanic's deft pass.