With the time at 86 minutes and being a goal down, Roma made an incredible comeback against Parma Calcio 1913 at Stadio Ennio Tardini to boost their chance of European football qualification.
The victory takes the capital club to the 5th spot, an automatic spot for UEFA Europa League, and joint on points with AC Milan, who will later play Atalanta.
It was a scrappy win for the Gialorossi in an extraordinary 3-2 thriller at the 101st minute with a Donyell Malen penalty after Parma had turned it around to lead 2-1 at the 87th.
The Giallorossi were right back in the push for Champions League football after thrashing Fiorentina 4-0, and maintaining the same goal at Parma until the dying moment.
The 1-0 win recorded by Juventus at Lecce further put the pressure on Roma, making the trip to Parma a must-win.
Giant Piero Gasperini started Paulo Dybala, Donyell Malen, and Matias Soulé in attack for only the second time after January 25, as Lorenzo Pellegrino, Bryan Zaragoza, Artem Dovbyk, and Evan Ferguson remained injured.
Neil El Aynaoui returned from suspension while Ducali were without Adrian Bernabé, Gaetano Oristanio, and Matija Frigan.
Within 9 minutes, Roma had the ball in the net through doyen Malen, who controlled a long ball over the top, flicked it around Zion Suzuki to deposit it into an empty net. The goal was chalked off as he was flagged offside.
Gianluca Mancini’s penalty appeals got turned down. The defender went to control a Dybala pass, getting there ahead of Lautaro Valenti, who kicked him in the back of the ankle.
However, VAR decided not to recommend an On-Field Review.
Roma eventually opened the goals account moments later, as Manu Kone stole the ball in midfield for Dybala, who released a one-touch pass perfectly for Malen to beat the on-rushing Suzuki.
Roma looked for the second as Mario Hermoso flashed a dangerous ball across the face of the goal, which went beyond Malen.
The second should have arrived as Soulé’s free header thumped the far post on a Dybala cross.
Parma almost got a gift as Mile Svilar was almost caught out by a poor Evan Ndicka back-pass as the goalie made a desperate tackle on Gabriel Strefezza, while there was nobody ready to meet Emanuele Valeri’s roll across, and Hans Nicolussi Caviglia blasted off target.
Parma then level matters a few minutes after the restart, as Nicolussi Caviglia intercepted a wayward Hermoso pass and set up Strefezza, who drilled a precise snooker-shot into the far bottom corner from just inside the area.
Malen almost called Suzuki to action as the goalie made the save at the near post.
Parma thought they had eventually equalised in the 55th minute as Mateo Pellegrino’s header from a corner had looped in.
But the offside flag was up for Mariano Troilo, who was considered to be interfering with play near Svilar.
Parma then turned the game around when Mandela Keita combined with Ordonez to control the ball over the top with his chest and drilled through a sea of legs from 12 yards.
Troilo’s crucial block after Suzuki fumbled a cross prevented the Gianluca Mancini tap-in.
Roma then restored parity deep into stoppages, as a corner got trapped in a crowd of players, hitting Mancini’s arm as he was flat on the turf, eventually laid off for Devyne Rensch to fire in hard and low from just inside the area.
After Parma protested, VAR checked and gave the all-clear.
It was all drama in the end when Roma was awarded a penalty after their appeal was initially turned down.
The referee initially gave a free kick against Rensch for a wrestling match with Sascha Britschgi, but changed his decision after a VAR review. He also issued a second yellow card to Britschgi.
Malen made no mistake from the spot by converting it into the near top corner to give all three precious points for the Giallorossi.
