Roma 1-0 Cagliari: Match report, reaction and key statistics

Federico Fazio scored a last-minute winner to rescue Roma at the death on Saturday night, as the Giallorossi beat a stubborn Cagliari side 1-0 at the Stadio Olimpico.

Fazio drove home from close range - in somewhat fortuitous circumstances - deep into injury time to finally break the deadlock, just as the Giallorossi looked on the verge of a second goalless draw in succession.

The strike ended the visitors' determined rear-guard action, with Diego Perotti's second-half missed penalty the closest Eusebio Di Francesco's side had come to turning the game in their favour.

Fazio's goal came in the fourth of six minutes of additional time, as Cagliari goalkeeper Alessio Cragno punched Aleksandar Kolarov's dangerous inswinging free-kick straight into the path of the Argentine defender.

Fazio barely had time to control the ball before blastering home, sending an Olimpico crowd that had begun to lose hope into rapture.

The goal was reviewed on VAR, but it was adjudged to be legal after the referee watched a number of replays - sparking celebrations around the ground.

That was not the first time VAR had been used on the night, however, with a penalty earlier awarded to Roma after Edin Dzeko had initially been booked for simulation.

Cragno saved Perotti's penalty, and with it went the best of the many chances the home side created on the night.

That was, of course, until Fazio popped up in the box in the final moments.

Team selection

Patrik Schick started in attack alongside Edin Dzeko and Diego Perotti.

Daniele De Rossi - back from suspension - captained the side, with Lorenzo Pellegrini and Radja Nainggolan either side of him.

Key moments

FIRST HALF

11' - Kolarov drives in a low cross but Cragno saves and holds as Dzeko closes in.

22' - Appeals for a penalty as Kolarov goes down in the box, but the referee waves play on. Schick's attempt from range is charged down.

24' - Chance for Roma. Perotti, briefly out on the right, beats his man and puts in an inviting cross that Schick heads over from close range.

29' - Dzeko meets a deep ball into the box from Florenzi, but his header is high and wide.

34' - Another decent opening for Roma - Radja collects a half-clearance on the edge of the box but cannot steer his low drive on target.

35' - SAVE! More good work from Perotti to set up Nainggolan, whose lashed strike is parried away by Cragno!

40' - A mazy run from Perotti cuts open the Cagliari midfield, but his shot from the edge of the box is charged down.

See more images in our dedicated match gallery.

SECOND HALF

48' - Roma's first attempt of the half is smashed high over the crossbar by Radja.

50' - VAR. Dzeko goes down in the box and is initially booked for simulation ... but the replay shows the contact. PENALTY TO ROMA!

53' - PENALTY SAVED. Perotti steps up calmly but Cragno guesses the right way and makes the stop.

64' - De Rossi meets Kolarov's inswining corner but his looping header back across goal is claimed by Cragno.

77' - Ball falls kindly for substitute Diego Farias inside the box, but he fires high and wide. Let-off for Roma.

83' - Roma move the ball from the back to the front quickly through Florenzi, before Perotti cuts inside and shoots straight at Cragno.

90' - GOAL! ROMA WIN IT! What drama! Cragno punches Kolarov's inswinging free-kick straight into the path of Federico Fazio, who thumps home from close range! VAR review is recommended... but the referee awards the goal! 1-0!

Key match statistics

See more game statistics in our dedicated match centre.

Social media reaction

Roma reaction

“It was tough but we got the three points in the end. We kept possession well. The goal had to come sooner or later and it did. We all really wanted it.”

- Federico Fazio

"We had huge territorial supremacy and we had chances to score earlier but we weren't determined or clinical enough – call it what you will. We've worked on that but clearly not enough. I don't have a magic wand. I see there's only one team creating chances and we scored in the 94th minute then people say we struggle to score but I don't agree with that at all. We may not always have been tidy but we took the game to them, as we always do.”

- Eusebio Di Francesco

What's next?

The Giallorossi are back at the Olimpico on Wednesday, as they host Torino in the Coppa Italia. Kick-off is at 17:30 CET.

The next Serie A game is a big one: the Giallorossi travelling to face Juventus on Saturday, in what will be the final engagement before Christmas.

ROMA 1-0 CAGLIARI

Goalscorers: Fazio (90'+4)

Roma: Alisson; Florenzi, Manolas, Fazio, Kolarov; De Rossi, Nainggolan (Strootman), Pellegrini (El Shaarawy); Perotti, Dzeko, Schick (Cengiz).

Cagliari: Cragno; Romagna, Pisacane, Andreolli; van der Wiel, Ionita, Cigarini, Barella, Padoin; João Pedro, Pavoletti.