Lukaku Hero, villain as Nine-Man Roma draw with Fiorentina

Romelu Lukaku was the hero and the villain as AS Roma finished with just nine players in a dramatic 1-1 draw at home against Fiorentina on Sunday, in Italy’s Serie A.

The result sees Jose Mourinho’s Roma move back into fourth spot in Serie A, the final Champions League qualification place, as the race for European football continues to heat up in the Italian top flight.

The home side got off to a perfect start when Paulo Dybala delivered an inch-perfect cross for Lukaku to head in after just five minutes. However, La Viola would fight back and equalise through defender Lucas Martinez Quarta, who glanced in a curling cross from Christian Kouame midway through the second half.

Things went from bad to worse for Roma when Nicola Zalewski received a second yellow card soon after the goal, reducing the hosts to 10 men. As if that was not enough drama, Lukaku would also see red in the final minutes for a reckless challenge, capping off a rollercoaster of emotions for the Stadio Olimpico faithful.

Mourinho’s side did well to hold on for a share of the spoils, which sees them regain fourth spot over Bologna on goal difference. The draw also keeps Fiorentina seventh but moves them to within touching distance of the European places.