Having won all four of their previous SA games against newly-promoted sides this season, Roma unsurprisingly started on the front foot against the Grigiorossi. Gian Piero Gasperini’s men dominated proceedings early on, but for all their possession, clear-cut openings came at a premium, as Cremonese defender Sebastiano Luperto glanced a close-range header narrowly wide of his own goal.
The hosts upped the ante after a cagey first 30 minutes, and they came within inches of a breakthrough when Gianluca Mancini headed against the bar from Bryan Zaragoza’s inviting delivery. Having emerged victorious from just one of their last five competitive outings (D3, L1), Roma continued to probe with half-time approaching, but the visitors’ rearguard held firm under pressure to remain level at the break.
Similar to the first half, the Giallorossi began the second period in the ascendancy, with Donyell Malen seeing an effort smartly saved by Emil Audero at the near post.
That was only a brief reprieve for Cremonese, though, as Gasperini’s side took a deserved lead shortly before the hour mark when Lorenzo Pellegrini’s corner was superbly headed home by Bryan Cristante.
Buoyed by the breakthrough, Roma looked to press home their advantage as time ticked into the final 25 minutes, with Audero denying Evan Ndicka and Malen firing wide when well-placed in the box.
Undeterred, a second goal duly arrived for the hosts in the 77th minute, as Cristante’s flick from Neil El Aynaoui’s corner was clinically converted by Ndicka for the Ivorian’s first-ever Serie A strike.
That all but ended the match as a contest, and Roma added further gloss to the scoreline late on when substitute Niccolo Pisilli swept a superb first-time effort into the far corner.
Victory moves the Giallorossi level on points with third-placed Napoli, while Cremonese remain just three points above the relegation zone, having only scored in two of their last 12 matches.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Bryan Cristante (AS Roma)