Torino salvage late draw against title-chasing Roma
Substitute Maxi Lopez's last-minute penalty helped Torino secure a 1-1 draw at home to title-chasing AS Roma at the Stadio Olimpico.
Miralem Pjanic's 83rd minute free-kick looked to have sealed all three points for the visitors but Lopez converted from the spot after Roma defender Kostas Manolas tripped Andrea Belotti in the area. Looking to back in the winning column after tasting defeat in their last two games, including a 6-1 thrashing at the hands of Barcelona in the Champions League, Roma were on the back foot from the off with Belotti and Bruno Peres having good chances to put them ahead after 10 minutes.
But Roma suffered an injury blow when Gervinho hobbled off with an injury after 25 minutes. The visitors continued to retain possession for large parts of the game and got their reward through an uncontested set-piece after 83 minutes. Bosnia-Herzegovina international Pjanic's lofted free-kick flew past a crowd of players and bounced past the helpless Daniele Padelli in the Torino goal.
Torino pressed for an equaliser in the closing stages and their persistence finally earned the vital breakthrough six minutes into injury time. Manolas was adjudged to have fouled Belotti in the box and Lopez calmly slotted the resulting penalty to ensure both sides shared the spoils.
The point sees Roma miss the chances to temporarily climb up to second while Torino remain in eighth place.