Roma’s European football ambition for next season has received a boost after Robinio Vaz scored his first goal for the club in the Serie A clash against Lecce.
Vaz’s first Roma goal was therefore enough to defeat Lecce as Mario Hermoso’s goal-line clearance secured maximum points for Gian Piero Gasperini.
This is a response from the Giallorossi that had a disastrous couple of weeks, failing to win a single game this month.
They have only been able to record just one point from three Serie A rounds to slide down to sixth place.
Their recent disappointment was on Thursday when they lost 4-3 to Bologna in extra time for the Europa League Round of 16 elimination.
Lorenzo Pellegrini had the first chance at goal as Wladimiro Falcone saved his shot at the near post in the opening minute.
The cross took a double deflection, and the goalie made another save using his legs on Pellegrini’s angled drive.
Roma thought they already got the lead on 24 minutes when Nicolò Pisilli threaded an angled drive past Falcone into the far bottom corner, but the referee ruled it out as Pellegrini was offside in the build-up.
Evan Ndicka’s header from a corner went wide while Tiago Gabriel made a fantastic double tackle to first stop Malen inside the area and blocked off the El Aynaoui follow-up effort.
Falcone was again called into action when he fingertipped a Gianluca Mancini cross-shot over the bar.
Roma then suffered another injury blow, losing Gianluca Mancini at half-time to injury.
Lecce had the first chance in the second period as struggling Svilar parried a swerving long-range Ngom effort, and Tiago Gabriel nodded over from the resulting corner.
Vaz, a second-half substitute, made an immediate impact with his first goal in the Roma jersey to score what eventually became the winner.
Mario Hermoso, on the left, released a cross from the by-line for the ex-Olympique Marseille talent to nod in from a very tricky angle at the back post.
Sadik Fofana, in a good position, scuffed the finish wide under pressure from Ndicka, as Lecce searched for the equaliser.
A double opportunity came the way of the visitors on 73 minutes. Konan N’Dri dribbled down the left and released a shot saved by Svilar’s leg at the near post, and Hermoso cleared off the line from the Santiago Pierotti diving follow-up header.
It was a delightful scene for the hosts that came with a huge cheer from the crowd as Angelino made his first Serie A appearance at the Stadio Olimpico since October, following a difficult battle with pneumonia.
Vaz got a chance to get a brace but blasted over after a corner was knocked into his path.
