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Jose Mourinho’s Roma holds on for 1-1 draw with Fiorentina despite ending with nine men

Roma move up to fourth place and into the Champions League spots — a significant step for a team that didn't qualify for Europe's elite competition during Mourinho's first two seasons in charge

AS Roma’s Romelu Lukaku (left) and Alfred Duncan of Fiorentina vie for the ball during the Serie A match in Rome on Sunday. Getty Images

AP/PTI
Published 12.12.23, 08:25 AM

Jose Mourinho's Roma managed a draw that seemed like a victory.

The Giallorossi held on with only nine men to salvage a 1-1 draw with visiting Fiorentina in Serie A on Sunday.

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Roma moved up to fourth place and into the Champions League spots — a significant step for a team that didn't qualify for Europe's elite competition during Mourinho's first two seasons in charge.

But it was a costly point for Roma as Paulo Dybala limped off with an apparent injury and Romelu Lukaku was shown a red card that will keep him out of a match against Bologna next weekend.

Lukaku crouched down to head in a cross from Dybala five minutes in at the Stadio Olimpico. Dybala then limped off 20 minutes later.

After Roma full-back Nicola Zalewski picked up his second yellow card midway through the second half, Lucas Martinez-Quarta equalised for Fiorentina by flicking in a header with his back to the goal.

Lukaku was then shown a straight red for a foul on Christian Kouame in the 87th.

But Mourinho's men held tight and extended their unbeaten run at home to six matches. Roma moved within four points of struggling third-place AC Milan.

Jose Mourinho Roma Champions League
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