David Pizarro slotted home a last-minute penalty for Roma on Friday to edge them to a 2-1 win over Lecce.
Late drama in Lecce as visitors snatch all three points
David Pizarro slotted home a last-minute penalty for Roma on Friday to edge them to a 2-1 win over Lecce.
Former Lecce striker Mirko Vucinic opened the scoring at Stadio Via del Mare on 32 minutes, but the hosts grabbed a deserved leveller through Guillermo Giacomazzi 15 minutes from time.
That looked like being enough to snatch a share of the spoils, but a late spot kick from Pizarro left them deflated and empty-handed.
The result leaves the Apulian side just three points above the bottom three while Roma move to within a point of fifth-placed Udinese.
Marco Cassetti was heavily involved in the action midway through the first half as he dragged a shot wide of the far post, almost scoring against his former club, before being forced to leave the field prematurely due to injury.
Vucinic did manage to score against his former club, though, as he put Roma ahead in the 32nd minute.
The Montenegrin picked up the ball on the halfway line, shook off the attention of Andrea Rispoli and took the ball to the edge of the penalty area, from where he toe-poked the ball into the far corner.
Dominance
Lecce responded well with Giacomazzi's header tipped over the bar in the 37th minute and Rispoli almost making up for his error on the goal a minute later, but his shot on the turn was deflected over the crossbar by Pizarro with Roma goalkeeper Doni beaten.
Marco Borriello shot wide of the post in the 50th minute, but that effort merely punctuated Lecce's dominance of the game.
Ruben Olivera's shot went just wide in the 57th minute and substitute Daniele Corvia's header was pushed wide in stunning fashion by Doni.
Corvia shot wide again in the 65th minute before Lecce finally restored parity 10 minutes later.
Giacomazzi flicked Gianni Munari's cross beyond the reach of Doni and into the far corner of his goal.
Ernesto Chevanton was sent onto the field by Lecce coach Luigi De Canio as he looked for all three points, but it was Roma who stole the bounty.
Boriello's header struck the arm of Munari inside the penalty area and Pizarro dispatched the spot-kick to inflict a cruel defeat on struggling Lecce and lift Roma back into contention for a place in Europe next season.
