AS Roma's ambitions to keep pace with Serie A's frontrunners suffered a significant blow on Sunday, as they fell to a 1-0 defeat away to Cagliari in a match marred by frustration and a costly sending-off.
Red Card Proves Costly for Frustrated Roma
The pivotal moment arrived just seven minutes into the second half. With the game still goalless after a first half of few clear chances, Roma's Mehmet Celik was shown a straight red card for a professional foul on Cagliari's Michael Folorunsho just outside the penalty area. This dismissal left Jose Mourinho's side to play the remainder of the match with only ten men, drastically shifting the momentum.
Roma, who had been seeking a breakthrough to move level on points with league leaders Inter Milan, were forced into a defensive reshuffle. Their priority visibly shifted towards securing a point from a difficult situation, while the home side began to create the better opportunities.
Gaetano's Late Strike Seals Vital Win
Cagliari pressed their advantage and came close to scoring shortly after the red card, with Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar making a crucial block from Adam Obert's close-range effort. The match grew increasingly ill-tempered, with a scuffle breaking out between the sides in the 78th minute as tensions boiled over.
The decisive goal finally came with just eight minutes of normal time remaining. From a Cagliari corner, midfielder Gianluca Gaetano displayed excellent technique, chesting the ball down before firing a precise half-volley into the net from a tight angle. Another brief altercation flared in the closing minutes, but Cagliari held firm to secure a vital three points in their battle against relegation.
Serie A Table Implications
The result has major implications at both ends of the Serie A table. Roma missed the chance to draw level with Inter Milan on 30 points, remaining fourth on 27 points after Inter's 4-0 win over Como on Saturday. The gap at the top could widen further depending on the results of Napoli and AC Milan in their respective fixtures.
For Cagliari, the victory provides a crucial boost in their fight for survival. In other Serie A action, Jamie Vardy's Cremonese secured a 2-0 win over Lecce, though the former Leicester City striker did not find the scoresheet. Roma's city rivals, Lazio, were scheduled to face Bologna later on Sunday.
