El Shaarawy's late strike fires Roma past 10-man Monza

Stephan El Shaarawy shot Roma to within touching distance of Serie A's Champions League places with the late winner in Sunday's 1-0 success over 10-man Monza.

Italy international El Shaarawy lashed in a low finish in the 90th minute at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, pushing Jose Mourinho's team up to sixth with their third straight league win.

Roma, who also struck the woodwork late on through Romelu Lukaku and Sardar Azmoun, are three points behind Napoli, Fiorentina and third-placed Juventus who take on AC Milan in the weekend's big match later on Sunday.

El Shaarawy's first goal of the season came at the end of a tough match against 11th-placed Monza who had to play the entire second half with 10 men following Danilo D'Ambrosio's harsh sending off four minutes before halftime.

"When I saw Azmoun's shot, more than Lukaku's, hit the post I thought, bah, if that doesn't go in... but Stephan has a feeling for goals and scoring late so he won the match for us," said Mourinho to Sky Sport.

Mourinho was sent off in stoppage time as tensions flared between the two dugouts after El Shaarawy struck, the Portuguese making a crying motion at the Monza staff.

"The only ones complaining about the referee were them. I'm not criticising them for it but for the fact that after a match like that they had some nasty words for us," added Mourinho.

Defeat for Monza was harsh as the away side put up a brave fight despite being a man down for half the match, El Shaarawy's winner the first goal they have conceded from open play since being thumped by Atalanta the start of September.

Raffaele Palladino's Monza look set for another decent season in Italy's top flight after being promoted last year and weren't fazed by new signing Papu Gomez being