Torino coach Ivan Juric has waxed lyrical about Atalanta loanee Duvan Zapata following the Colombian’s late equalizer in a 1-1 draw against Roma. The 32-year-old striker got off the mark in the Granata shirt after back-to-back scoring blanks against Salernitana and Genoa to rescue a point for his new side.
In a strange twist of fate, Zapata scored his first Torino goal against Roma, a side he was supposed to join down the final stretch of the summer transfer window. Jose Mourinho’s men seemed on the brink of taking the striker to the Stadio Olimpico, but a move collapsed at the 11th hour.
Zapata moved to Torino instead and made Roma pay for his trouble with a last-gasp equalizer, getting his head on the end of Ivan Ilic’s free-kick delivery. His Giallorossi counterpart, Romelu Lukaku, opened the scoring midway through the first half to put the visitors in front with his third goal in as many games.
However, Zapata cut Roma’s celebrations short, earning a round of plaudits for his Torino manager. Juric praised his new frontman in the aftermath, expressing delight for bringing him to the club on the deadline day.
“We are happy he is here, that this opportunity was created that we did not expect. He showed a great desire to come, and we are pleased he is with us,” the Torino gaffer told DAZN, as quoted by Gianluca Di Marzio.
Torino return to action on Wednesday as they head to the Stadio Olimpico to lock horns with Roma’s eternal rivals Lazio in midweek league action.
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