Franck Kessie keeps Atalanta's impressive run going

Franck Kessie's late penalty fired unstoppable Atalanta into the race for Champions League football as Serie A title hopefuls Roma suffered a 2-1 defeat.Heading into Sunday's showdown the Bergamo club had stormed into contention for a European place on the back of six wins from seven while Roma were looking to reduce a seven-point gap on leaders Juventus.Diego Perotti's penalty put the Giallorossi on the right track at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia, only for Mattia Caldara to snatch a second-half leveller. Just when Roma looked ready to settle for a draw, Ivorian midfielder Kessie secured a fifth straight Atalanta win and a share of third place.Keen to keep their impressive winning run going and seemingly undaunted by the league's top scorers, Atalanta pushed hard early on and Roberto Gagliardini almost scored after breaking into the box in the 21st minute.Roma took control, however, and after Perotti picked out Edin Dzeko for a bullet header, Etrit Berisha had to block Mohamed Salah at close quarters.Salah came knocking again before Rafael Toloi's handling of another effort from the Egyptian conceded a penalty.Perotti was extremely cool as he stuck the spot-kick away and Roma might have gone 2-0 up before the break as Salah fluffed a one-on-one with Berisha.Atalanta were brighter when play resumed and shortly after the hour mark they got their equaliser. Caldara, the 22-year-old defender, scored his second goal in as many matches by turning Kostas Manolas' poor clearance beyond Wojciech Szczesny.The visitors struggled to respond and looked helpless when Remo Freuler burst into the area before clattering a post.With full-time approaching Roma looked to have done enough to grind out a draw but it was not to be as Leandro Paredes brought Alejandro Gomez down in the box. Kessie, still only 19, did the honours to drag Atalanta into a three-way tie for third with AC Milan and Lazio.