Roma score late in 89th minute and stoppage time to beat Atalanta and stay top of Serie A

Roma produced one of those nights that make football worth watching. They trailed from the start of the second half and kept running into a goalkeeper in the form of his life, yet somehow won 2-1 thanks to a double blow in the 89th minute and stoppage time that sent the Stadio Olimpico into a frenzy. The victory keeps Gian Piero Gasperini's team at the top of Serie A with a perfect record: 9 points from 9 in the opening three rounds, level with Inter.

• Mario Hermoso equalised in the 89th minute with a header from a Matías Soulé corner.
• Soulé scored the 2-1 in added time, beating Carnesecchi at the near post.
• Marco Carnesecchi kept Atalanta alive all night with decisive saves until his one late lapse.
• Gasperini beat his former club and Maurizio Sarri, who had also arrived with a perfect record.
• Roma fired 37 shots, 10 on target, to break down the stubborn Atalanta wall.

Roma dominate the first half but Carnesecchi stands firm

The first half belonged to only one team. Roma pinned Atalanta back and created constant chances, driven by the energy of young Portuguese midfielder Rodrigo Mora. But every effort crashed into Marco Carnesecchi, who began his exhibition by denying headers from Gianluca Mancini and Bryan Cristante. There was just one crack: a goal from Evan Ndicka after a corner was ruled out for offside.

The Italian goalkeeper produced another vital save before the break. Donyell Malen, who had arrived on fire after scoring five goals in the first two rounds, cut inside twice and fired at point-blank range, but Carnesecchi blocked it. It would be the only real chance for the Dutch forward all night, and he was later substituted after a quiet performance.

Emerson silences the Olimpico with Atalanta's first real attack

The script flipped almost immediately after the restart. Atalanta scored with their first genuine move forward. Charles De Ketelaere got away down the left past Mario Hermoso, Ndicka could only clear the cross short, and Emerson arrived at pace to smash the ball beyond Mile Svilar in the 47th minute. With barely a warning, the visitors were ahead.

The goal left Roma rattled. Atalanta soon had two clear chances in quick succession to put the game to bed. First Lazar Samardzic blazed a point-blank shot wide, then Nikola Krstovic, through on goal against Mancini, put his finish too far across and past the far post. The chance to make it 2-0 slipped away, and that miss would prove costly for Maurizio Sarri's side.

Castro comes on and hits the woodwork during the late siege

The introduction of Santiago Castro for Donyell Malen gave Roma a new spark. Almost immediately after stepping onto the pitch, the Argentine striker worked some space inside the box and unleashed a shot that smashed against the post. It felt like the night was beginning to turn against the home side, trapped between Carnesecchi and the frame of the goal.

Roma kept pushing and refused to settle for a draw. In added time, Soulé, later named MVP, sent the Olimpico wild.

The siege became a test of endurance. Every cross and every shot hit a defensive wall or ran into the goalkeeper's reflexes. Castro came close again with a header that clipped the crossbar, another sign of a battle against the woodwork that seemed cursed. As regular time ran down, the home crowd kept faith through pure noise and belief.

Soulé and Hermoso complete a comeback that protects the lead

Just when a draw felt like a miracle, the reward arrived in the 89th minute. Matías Soulé swung in a corner and Mario Hermoso met it with a header at the near post that flew in at the far post. The Olimpico erupted. There was very little time left, but Roma were not done.

Deep into added time, Soulé finished the job. He cut inside past Davide Zappacosta and slotted home at the near post, beating Carnesecchi with the only mistake of a memorable performance. The Argentine was named player of the match after a stunning individual display, and Roma sealed a win that did justice to a relentless attacking effort: 37 shots in total, 10 of them on target.

Conclusion: maximum points and first place in Serie A

With this 2-1 win, Roma continue their flawless start to the season, level on points with Inter at the top of the table. The clash between Gian Piero Gasperini and Maurizio Sarri, two veteran coaches with a shared past in Bergamo, ended in favour of the Roma boss thanks to a late reaction that keeps title hopes alive. There is a long campaign ahead, but the Olimpico has already witnessed one of its great nights of the year.