A dramatic last gasp goal from Stephan El Shaarawy sees Roma go top of the Serie A table in Jose Mourinho’s 1000th game as a manager.
Jose Mourinho´s 1,000th game as a manager ended with a trademark celebratory sprint down the touchline after AS Roma’s Stephan El Shaarawy scored a stoppage-time equalizer to snatch a 2-1 win over Sassuolo.
The Italy winger curled a shot in off the post to clinch victory in a thrilling contest on that saw both sides hit the post and the visitors denied a last-gasp equalizer by the offside flag.
The result leaves Roma top of the standings with a perfect nine points, ahead of AC Milan and Napoli on goal difference, while Sassuolo are ninth with four points from three games.
Mourinho said after the match: ‘I told everyone lies!
‘I had been saying to the team for days that this 1000th game was not important to me… but I had an incredible fear of losing!
‘Luckily, we won and I was running like a child today because I was feeling 12 years old, not 58’.
Domenico Berardi finished well for the visitors in the first half. However, the goal was disallowed for an offside in the build-up.
Roma then went in front after 37 minutes through a training ground free-kick routine as Bryan Cristante latched onto a clever pass to fire home.
Sassuolo equalized in the 57th when Berardi spun past his marker to tee up Filip Djuricic for a close-range finish. Moments later striker Tammy Abraham struck the post for Roma from a tight angle.
Rui Patricio kept Roma on level terms with two big saves when one-on-one with Berardi and Jeremie Boga, while Sassuolo substitute Hamed Junior Traore thumped the foot of the post as Alessio Dionisi’s side applied pressure.
But the hosts held on and were rewarded when El Shaarawy netted late on, sparking wild celebrations as the coaching staff poured onto the pitch.
Sassuolo then thought they had scored a sensational equalizer through a Gianluca Scamacca volley, but it was disallowed for offside.