Dec 10 (Reuters) – AS Roma managed to secure a 1-1 draw at home against Fiorentina in Serie A on Sunday despite playing much of the second half with a reduced squad after first Nicola Zalewski and then Romelu Lukaku were sent off.
Lukaku had opened the scoring after five minutes with a precise diving header from close range, courtesy of Paulo Dybala’s perfectly placed cross.
In the 64th minute, midfielder Zalewski received his second yellow card and was sent off, only for Fiorentina to equalise two minutes later when Lucas Martinez Quarta headed in a cross.
Three minutes before time, Lukaku flew into a sliding tackle on Fiorentina’s Christian Kouame and was shown a direct red card.
Roma are in fourth place with 25 points, trailing AC Milan in third by four points and the league leaders, Inter Milan, by 13. Fiorentina are in seventh place with 24 points. (Reporting by Tommy Lund in Gdansk; editing by Clare Fallon)
