In a thrilling Serie A encounter on Sunday, Roma orchestrated an incredible late comeback to secure a 2-1 victory over Lecce at the Stadio Olimpico.
The match, which looked destined for a surprising upset, saw Roma’s Romelu Lukaku become the hero with a stoppage-time goal.
Lecce took the lead in the 71st minute when Pontus Almqvist found the back of the net, leaving Roma in a precarious position. However, Sardar Azmoun came to the rescue for the home side, equalizing in the 91st minute with his first Serie A goal.
The drama didn’t end there as Lukaku unleashed a powerful strike just three minutes later to complete the comeback.
Lukaku’s late-game heroics were a redemption of sorts, considering he had missed a penalty in the sixth minute and another golden opportunity early in the second half. The Belgian striker’s match-winning goal sent the Roma faithful into jubilation.
This crucial victory propelled Roma ahead of their city rivals, Lazio, in the Serie A standings, setting the stage for an eagerly anticipated Rome derby next weekend.
Roma currently occupies the eighth position with 17 points, just four points away from the coveted Champions League qualification spots, while Lazio suffered a defeat at the hands of Bologna on Friday.
In another fixture, Fiorentina was set to host Juventus, but local fans had requested a postponement due to the extensive damage caused by Storm Ciaran in Tuscany.
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Widespread flooding and fallen trees led Italian authorities to declare a state of emergency, affecting many aspects of daily life, including sports events.
Notably, Inter Milan’s passionate supporters announced their decision to boycott the traditional Milan derby, protesting the authorities’ choice to proceed with the match despite the severe weather conditions.
Meanwhile, Cagliari made a significant move out of the relegation zone with their second consecutive victory, defeating fellow promoted side Genoa 2-1.
Coach Claudio Ranieri played a pivotal role in Cagliari’s triumph, with second-half goals from substitutes Nicolas Viola and Gabriele Zappa securing all three points.
Cagliari currently sits one point ahead of Verona, who find themselves just inside the relegation zone after a 3-1 home defeat against Monza.