Italy's 2022 World Cup champion Paulo Dybala scored a hat-trick, including a spectacular curling shot from outside the penalty area, to help Roma beat Torino 3-2 in Serie A's 26th round.
In the 40th minute, substitute defender Saba Sazonov kicked Sardar Azmoun in the heel, and Roma were awarded a penalty. Romelu Lukaku was on the bench, so Dybala took responsibility for the penalty. The Argentinian striker fired a powerful shot into the right corner, contrary to Vanja Milinkovic-Savic's prediction, opening the scoring for Roma.
In the 57th minute, receiving the ball from Bryan Cristante from about 30 meters out, Dybala curled a left-footed shot towards the far corner, the ball hitting the inside edge of the net, leaving Milinkovic-Savic with no chance to get a hand on it despite his best efforts.
Forward Paulo Dybala curled a shot from about 30 meters to give Roma a 2-1 lead in their 3-2 victory over Torino in Serie A's 26th round on February 26th. Photo: AFP
The 2022 World Cup champion capped off a brilliant performance in the 69th minute. He combined with Lukaku with a one-touch pass, received the ball back in the penalty area, and fired a left-footed shot into the far corner, completing his first Serie A hat-trick since October 2018. This was also Dybala's first hat-trick for Roma, the club he joined in the summer of 2022.
"It's been a long time since I scored a hat-trick and I really wanted it," Dybala told DAZN after the match. "I almost scored a hat-trick against Cagliari but was substituted. I wasn't frantically searching for it, but the hat-trick actually came and I'm happy."
After scoring his second goal, Dybala ran to the touchline to hug new coach Daniele De Rossi and celebrated emotionally. The 30-year-old striker said the goal came at a difficult time for Roma, as Torino had equalized 1-1 and forced Roma to change their playing style. He also jokingly said he would give the hat-trick ball to his mother to avoid making her angry.
In the summer of 2022, Dybala's contract with Juventus expired, and he joined Roma after being persuaded by coach Jose Mourinho. In total, he has scored 30 goals and provided 14 assists for Roma in 63 matches across all competitions, and his contract runs until the summer of 2025. "I said when I first arrived that I feel like I'm living a different life in this city. I don't know what will happen, but I'm enjoying every moment here with the fans and my teammates," Dybala said when asked about his future.
Dybala scored Roma's third goal in their 3-2 victory over Torino in Serie A's 26th round at the Olimpico stadium in Rome on February 26th. Photo: arsoma.it
Dybala's hat-trick helped Roma secure five Serie A victories after replacing Mourinho with De Rossi. Under the Italian coach, Roma defeated Verona 2-1, Salernitana 2-1, Cagliari 4-0, lost to Inter Milan 2-4, and won against Frosinone 3-0 and Torino 3-2. This impressive run of results propelled Roma to sixth place in Serie A, just four points behind fourth-placed Bologna, raising hopes of a top-four finish and Champions League qualification next season. De Rossi's team also overcame Feyenoord on penalties to advance to the Europa League Round of 16, where they will face Brighton.
Starting lineup:
Roma : Svilar, Mancini, Smalling (Huijsen 78), Ndicka, Kristensen, Pellegrini (Sanches 86), Paredes (Bove 65), Cristante, Angelino (Spinazzola 64), Dybala, Azmoun (Lukaku 65).
Torino : Milinkovic-Savic, Masina (Ivan Ilic 81), Lovato (Sazonov 14), Djidji, Lazaro (Ricardo Rodriguez 62), Gineitis (Linetty 80), Vlasic, Bellanova, Ricci, Zapata, Sanabria (Okereke 81).
Hong Duy
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