Serie A
Mancini propels Roma into fourth
Gianluca Mancini scored twice to put Roma's Champions League hopes in its own hands on the final day after a 2-0 victory over Lazio in a fiery Derby della Capitale.… Show More
Gianluca Mancini scored twice to put Roma's Champions League hopes in its own hands on the final day after a 2-0 victory over Lazio in a fiery Derby della Capitale.
Mancini scored on either side of half-time, with both sides also finishing with 10 men as tempers flared at Stadio Olimpico.
It marked a fourth straight win for Roma, which moved to fourth, two points above Como and Juventus; a win over Hellas Verona will see it qualify for the Champions League next weekend.
Roma started brightly, with Wesley seeing a low drive deflect into Alessio Furlanetto’s gloves before Matteo Cancellieri curled a lovely strike straight at Mile Svilar at the other end.
Just when Lazio looked like it was growing into the game, Mancini struck the first blow, thumping a Niccolo Pisilli corner into the net with five minutes of the first half remaining.
After a cagey start to the second half, Donyell Malen saw a volley smothered by Furlanetto, who then tipped a Paulo Dybala free-kick over the bar.
Moments later, Dybala turned provider, with Mancini again rising highest in the box to meet a corner and power it beyond a helpless Furlanetto.
A brawl then erupted in the aftermath of the goal, with Nicolo Rovella and Wesley both receiving straight red cards for their parts in the pushing and shoving.
Artem Dovbyk came off the bench and was only inches away from an immediate impact, but his low shot struck the foot of the post.
