Last-Gasp Romelu Lukaku Fires Roma To Comeback Win Over Lecce

Romelu Lukaku fired Roma to a stunning 2-1 win over Lecce on Sunday with a stoppage-time strike which completed an unlikely late comeback and sent his team into next weekend's Rome derby in positive mood. Jose Mourinho's Roma looked set for a shock defeat at the Stadio Olimpico when Pontus Almqvist netted Lecce's opener in the 71st minute. But Iran striker Sardar Azmoun pulled the hosts level in the 91st minute with a bullet header -- his first goal in Serie A -- and Lukaku brought the house down three minutes later with a rifled finish.

"It was a crazy match which could have gone either way. It went in our favour," said Mourinho to DAZN.

Lukaku's winner was redemption as he would have bore the brunt of the blame for a defeat after missing a sixth-minute penalty and another golden opportunity eight minutes after the break.

The Belgium striker, who had a difficult return to Inter Milan last weekend, charged to the stands where he was hailed for a late winner which moved Roma above Lazio.

Roma are eighth on 17 points, four points away from the Champions League spots and one ahead of Lazio who lost at Bologna on Friday.

Mourinho was also cheered by the return of Paulo Dybala, who laid on Lukaku's ninth Roma goal in all competitions since he signed on loan from Chelsea in late August.

Dybala could easily have finished the game with a brace after a pair of sumptuous strikes in each half blazed wide, and he looked in fine fettle after recovering from a knee ligament injury.

"Paulo is obviously important for us," said Mourinho.

"I've just spoken to him and while I thought he would say it would be better to stay here, not travel (to Slavia Prague in the Europa League) and prepare for next weekend, he told me that he wants to