Roma 2-1 Lecce: Romelu Lukaku stars as Roma come from behind to defeat Lecce

Sardar Azmoun and Romelu Lukaku scored in stoppage time to give AS Roma a 2-1 home win over Lecce in Serie A on Sunday, their fourth win in five league games, cutting the gap to the top four to four points.

Pontus Almqvist put Lecce ahead in the 72nd minute, but Azmoun equalized for Roma with a powerful header, and Lukaku sealed the win with a left-footed shot into the top corner.

Roma, who play Lazio in a derby on November 12 after visiting Slavia Prague in the Europa League on Thursday, moved up to eighth place in the standings with 17 points from 11 games.

They trail fourth-placed champions Napoli by four points and leaders Inter Milan by 11 points. Lecce is 11th with 13 points.

Belgium striker Lukaku had an early penalty spot kick to give Jose Mourinho's side the lead after a shot by Paulo Dybala struck Federico Baschirotto's hand.

However, Lukaku struck low towards the middle of the goal, and Lecce keeper Wladimiro Falcone saved his effort in the fifth minute.

Dybala, who had returned to Roma's starting lineup after missing a month due to a knee injury, narrowly missed the target after half an hour.

Roma had more possession and were the better team in the first 45 minutes, but they were unable to capitalize.

Lecce's Marin Pongracic stormed past the defence and into the box in the 54th minute to strike from close range, but goalkeeper Rui Patricio was alert and caught the ball.

Lecce, however, took the lead through Almqvist, who latched onto a pass inside the box and fired a low shot into the bottom-left corner.

Mourinho's men pressed for an equalizer, and substitute Azmoun thundered home a header in the first minute of stoppage time, before Lukaku sealed the win with a close-range shot into the far top corner just over two minutes later.

SportsLigue