Roma have positioned themselves to potentially finish the weekend at the summit of Serie A after a commanding 3-1 away victory over Cremonese, a match marked by the long-awaited return to the scoresheet for Irish striker Evan Ferguson.
The win pushes Roma to 27 points, temporarily placing them two points clear of Napoli, who won on Saturday. The capital club's fate at the top now hinges on the outcome of the Milan derby, where Inter can reclaim the lead.
Ferguson's Moment of Relief
After missing Roma's last three fixtures and international duty with Ireland due to an ankle injury, Ferguson was introduced as a substitute on the hour mark. The 21-year-old needed just four minutes to make his mark, ending a barren run that stretched back to October 2024 when he last scored for Brighton.
The decisive moment arrived when Cremonese failed to clear their lines. A neat lay-off from Neil El Aynaoui found Ferguson, who displayed superb composure to take a touch and expertly bend his shot past goalkeeper Mile Svilar into the corner of the net.
The relief and joy were palpable as the entire Roma squad rushed to celebrate with the young forward, embracing him after he broke his almost 13-month goal drought at club level.
Match Action and League Implications
The first half was a frantic affair, featuring a disallowed Roma goal for offside and a dramatic overturned penalty decision for Cremonese. The referee initially pointed to the spot for a handball by Gianluca Mancini, but the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) intervened, leading to the decision being rescinded.
Roma's opening goal came from Matías Soulé in the 17th minute. After Ferguson's equaliser, Wesley França sealed the three points just five minutes later. Francesco Folino managed a consolation header for the hosts in stoppage time, but it was too little, too late.
With this result, Cremonese remain 12th in the standings on 14 points.
Bundesliga Spotlight: Teenage Sensation Shines
Elsewhere in European football, another teenage talent made headlines in the Bundesliga. 19-year-old Assan Ouédraogo unleashed a spectacular, unstoppable shot to help RB Leipzig to a 2-0 win over Werder Bremen, moving the team back into second place.
The midfielder's powerful left-footed strike into the top corner in the 63rd minute capped a memorable week, following his goal on his Germany debut in a 6-0 World Cup qualifying win over Slovakia. That achievement made him the youngest German player to score on his first international appearance.
Substitute Xaver Schlager added a second goal for Leipzig in the 80th minute, securing their fourth win in five league games. The victory lifts Leipzig to 25 points, behind leaders Bayern Munich, with Bayer Leverkusen dropping to third.
