AS Roma 2 : 1 Lecce - Roma fifth after Lecce defeat

Posted Sunday, November 20, 2011 by PA

Roma moved to fifth in Serie A after a 2-1 win over Lecce at the Stadio Olimpico.

Miralem Pjanic put the home side ahead in the 24th minute and Fernando Gago doubled the Romans' lead early in the second half.

Andrea Bertolacci cut the deficit on the hour mark but Roma held on to clinch their fifth triumph of the campaign. The defeat has left Lecce in 18th place, two points adrift of safety.

Roma went into the encounter without defender Nicolas Burdisso, who was ruled out this week for six months with a knee injury.

The Romans, however, welcomed back captain Francesco Totti, who came on as a second-half substitute following a month out of action.

Roma had a bright start and almost took the lead in the 17th minute when Gabriel Heinze found room at the far post to turn and volley a shot that was kept out by Lecce goalkeeper Julio Sergio.

The hosts continued to cause Lecce problems and went in front soon after.

Rodrigo Taddei fed Pjanic inside the area and he fired past Julio Sergio from close range.

Daniel Osvaldo should have doubled Roma's lead but he struck wide from six yards.

Lecce almost drew level before half-time. Daniele Corvia got his head behind Massimo Oddo's cross but his effort was kept out by Roma goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg.

Roma doubled their lead after 54 minutes when Pjanic this time turned provider for Gago, who struck the ball towards the far post from 20 yards.

Lecce reduced the arrears six minutes later.

Bertolacci benefited from a deflection inside Roma's area and lobbed the ball over Stekelenburg and into the back of the net to re-open the game.

Lecce came close to equalising in the 69th minute when Juan Cuadrado's 15-yard strike went inches wide of the near post with Stekelenburg already beaten.

After Osvaldo saw a spectacular overhead kick controversially ruled out for offside Totti almost made it 3-1 with five minutes remaining as his right-footed shot from outside the area went over the bar.

Lecce continued to press the Romans but could not find a way through in the final stages of the game.