In a thrilling match on Sunday, Romelu Lukaku’s stoppage-time goal secured a remarkable 2-1 victory for Roma against Lecce.
Under the leadership of Jose Mourinho, Roma appeared destined for a surprising loss at the Stadio Olimpico after Pontus Almqvist scored Lecce’s opening goal in the 71st minute.
However, Sardar Azmoun equalized for the hosts in the 91st minute, marking his first goal in Serie A. Three minutes later, Lukaku sealed the comeback with a powerful finish.
Lukaku’s goal was redemption for him, as he could have been blamed for the defeat after missing a penalty in the sixth minute and another clear chance in the second half.
The Belgian striker, who had a difficult return to Inter Milan last weekend, celebrated his late winner by charging towards the stands, where he was praised by the fans. This victory moved Roma ahead of Lazio in the standings, just before the upcoming Rome derby.
Roma currently sits in eighth place with 17 points, four points away from the Champions League qualification spots, and one point ahead of Lazio, who suffered a defeat against Bologna on Friday.
Later in the day, Fiorentina will host Juventus. However, home fans have requested the match to be postponed due to the severe damage caused by Storm Ciaran across Tuscany.
The region has been affected by floods and fallen trees, resulting in chaos. Italian authorities declared a state of emergency on Friday due to record rainfall.
Inter’s hardcore supporters announced on Saturday that they would boycott what is traditionally the biggest match of their season, as a protest against the decision to proceed with the game.
Meanwhile, Cagliari climbed out of the relegation zone with their second consecutive win, defeating fellow promoted team Genoa 2-1.
Coach Claudio Ranieri played a key role, as his halftime substitutes Nicolas Viola and Gabriele Zappa scored the crucial goals in the second half to secure the three points.
Cagliari now sits one point above Verona, who are currently inside the relegation zone following a 3-1 home defeat against Monza.
AFP
