Roma 2-1 Spezia: Late drama sees Jose Mourinho’s side secure Europa League qualification thanks to late penalty

Paulo Dybala’s late penalty earned Roma a 2-1 comeback win over Spezia to seal Europa League qualification for the Giallorossi and condemn the visitors to a relegation play-off.

Roma, still hurting from their penalty heartbreak against Sevilla in the Europa League final in midweek, conceded an early opener to Dimitrios Nikolaou that was a huge boost to the visitors’ survival hopes.

Spezia needed to better Verona’s result away to AC Milan to be assured of avoiding the drop, but hopes of a shock win dimmed when Nicola Zalewski equalised before the break.

Dybala then converted a 90th-minute spot kick to drag Roma back into the top six at the death, and Milan’s 3-1 win at San Siro means that Spezia and Verona will compete in a play-off to decide the third and final team to join Cremonese and Sampdoria in being relegated.

Roma got off to a sluggish start when Nikolaou was left alone at the back post to head home an early opener and spark jubilant scenes of celebration on the Spezia bench.

But the hosts grew into the game and Stephan El Shaarawy clipped the bar with a shot before Zalewski’s cross found the net late in the first half.

At half-time, both sides were on course to achieve their goals of top six and survival, but things changed quickly in the second half.

When Juventus went in front against Udinese and Verona levelled against Milan, both teams needed to find a goal, and Roma’s chances took a further blow when Tammy Abraham was carted off with a nasty-looking injury minutes after coming on as a substitute.

The breakthrough eventually arrived when El Shaarawy darted into the box and went down under the challenge of Kelvin Amian, who was shown a second yellow card before Dybala converted the spot kick to compound Spezia’s misery.

Spezia and Verona finished level on 31 points in 17th and 18th place, and a rule re-introduced to Serie A this season means that a play-off will now be the primary tie-breaker in such cases, rather than head-to-head or goal difference.

TALKING POINT – Mou sent a message as Olimpico shows support

‘Mou, Rome is with you’ read one of the banners held aloft by the Olimpico crowd in honour of their coach. His name was roared out before the game and sung during it, while another banner plead for him to be “in charge…for 1000 years”.

After a week where the Portuguese has been charged by UEFA and widely criticised for his behaviour after the Europa League final – where he accosted referee Anthony Taylor in the car park to shout abuse at him – he couldn’t be there to soak up the love of the Roman crowd due to suspension.

Whether he is still on the Roma bench next season or not is a question that is yet to get a clear answer, but one thing was made resoundingly clear on the final day of the season – the fans are still 100% behind him and desperate for him to lead another crack at the Europa League.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – STEPHAN EL SHAARAWY

Although Dybala will yet again be the most celebrated man in the stadium, El Shaarawy was Roma’s liveliest player in an attacking sense. He came close in the first half with an effort that clipped the bar, and he won the penalty that settled the game. A lively match from the winger.

PLAYER RATINGS

Roma: Svilar 6; Celik 6, Smalling 7, Mancini 7, Zalewski 7; Bove 6, Cristante 7; Dybala 8, Pellegrini 6, El Shaarawy 8; Belotti 5

Subs: Llorente 6, Matic 6, Abraham 6, Spinazzola 6, Wijnaldum 6

Spezia: Zoet 6; Ampadu 6, Nikolaou 6, Wisniewski 6; Amian 4, Esposito 6, Bourabia 7, Zurkowski 6, Reca 6; Nzola 6, Gyasi 6

Subs: Ekdal 6, Verde 6, Cipot 6, Shomurodov 6, Krollis 6

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

6’ SPEZIA TAKE SHOCK LEAD

Wow! The visitors score with their first chance as a cross-shot flies to the back post, where Nikolaou is on hand to nod home! Huge celebrations down on the Spezia bench, that could be a massive goal for them – it keeps them in Serie A as things stand!

16’ ROMA CLIP THE BAR!

The home crowd groans as a corner is nodded out but works its way to El Shaarawy, whose dipping effort clips the bar on the way over!

43’ GOAL – ROMA LEVEL THROUGH ZALEWSKI!

Roma find the equaliser! Zalewski puts an inviting inswinging cross into the box from the left wing and it goes all the way through a group of bodies to settle in the far corner.

90’ AMIAN SENT OFF

Amian was one part of a two-man team who brought down El Shaarawy for the spot kick and earned a second yellow for his efforts.

90’ GOAL! DYBALA SURELY SEALS IT FOR ROMA!

Roma complete their comeback at the death as Dybala converts from 12 yards to break Spezia hearts!

KEY STAT

• Roma have ended a season outside the top four for the fifth season in a row – the longest streak in Serie A since nine years from 1988/89-1996/97