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Roma set back in Serie A after draw at Lecce

Sat, Feb 11, 2023
Soccer News (AP)

MILAN (AP) - Every point matters in Serie A in an increasingly tight battle for the Champions League qualifying spots and Roma could be left counting the cost of drawing lowly Lecce 1-1 on Saturday.

The away result left Roma third, above AC Milan on goal difference alone. Head-to-head is the first tiebreaker at the end of the season.

Lazio was two points below Roma with Atalanta a point further back. The two met in Rome late in a direct fight for the top four.

Lecce inched to 10 points above the relegation zone.

Lecce was looking to push on after ending a four-match winless run last week and it took a surprise lead when a corner was taken short and whipped in from the right for Federico Baschirotto to head into the far side of the net.

It was later adjudged to have gone in off Roma defender Roger Ibanez and went down as an own goal.

Roma leveled 10 minutes later after a corner was flicked on and came off the arm of Lecce forward Gabriel Strefezza. Paulo Dybala struck the resulting penalty into the bottom right corner.

Lecce goalkeeper Wladimiro Falcone preserved his side a point with fine saves.

DREAM DEBUT

Emanuel Vignato had a debut to remember for Empoli as he netted a stoppage-time equalizer to snatch a 2-2 draw against relegation-threatened Spezia in an action-packed match.

Vignato, who joined on loan from Bologna last month, went on with only five minutes remaining.

Spezia raced into an two-goal lead after Empoli defender Fabiano Parisi was sent off in the 21st minute for clearing the ball off the line with his hand.

Guglielmo Vicario parried Daniele Verde's penalty and his follow-up but the referee ordered it to be retaken. On the third attempt, Verde beat the Empoli goalkeeper and he did so again six minutes later with a screamer into the top corner.

The teams were down to 10 on 10 after the break when Spezia midfielder Salvatore Esposito was issued a second yellow card.

Nicolo Cambiaghi pulled one back for Empoli in the 71st before Vignato's late heroics.

Spezia was five points above the bottom three while Empoli moved to within three points of the European places.

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