NEW DELHI: Romelu Lukaku emerged as the savior for Jose Mourinho's Roma, securing a remarkable 2-1 victory over Lecce with a stoppage-time strike. This dramatic comeback, initiated by Iran striker Sardar Azmoun's first Serie A goal, sent Roma into the eagerly anticipated Rome derby next weekend with high spirits.The Stadio Olimpico witnessed a jaw-dropping twist as Pontus Almqvist netted Lecce's opener in the 71st minute, putting Mourinho's Roma on the verge of a shocking defeat. The supporters' hopes hung in the balance as time ticked away.However, Sardar Azmoun, with impeccable timing, powered a bullet header into the net, leveling the score in the 91st minute. Then, Romelu Lukaku stepped up three minutes later, unleashing a thunderous finish that ignited celebrations throughout the stadium.Speaking about the roller-coaster match, Mourinho expressed, "It was a crazy match which could have gone either way. It went in our favor."Romelu Lukaku's winning goal marked a personal redemption, as he could have shouldered the blame for a potential defeat after missing a crucial sixth-minute penalty and squandering another golden opportunity eight minutes into the second half. Lukaku, who had faced a challenging return to Inter Milan the previous weekend, charged towards the stands, where fans hailed him for securing the late victory, propelling Roma ahead of Lazio. Roma currently hold the eighth position in the Serie A standings, amassing 17 points, standing just four points away from the Champions League spots. The victory also placed them one point ahead of Lazio, who suffered a loss at the hands of Bologna on Friday.Mourinho was further buoyed by the return of Paulo Dybala, who played a pivotal role in Lukaku's ninth goal for Roma in all competitions. Dybala showcased his exceptional form despite recovering from a knee ligament injury, nearly sealing the game with a brace, but his strikes went narrowly wide.Commenting on Dybala's impact, Mourinho stated, "Paulo is obviously important for us."Meanwhile, Lecce find themselves in the 11th position after experiencing four losses and two draws in their last six league matches.Roma currently share the same points as Fiorentina, who hosted Juventus in Sunday's late match. However, fans protested the fixture's scheduling, demanding a postponement due to extensive damage caused by Storm Ciaran across Tuscany, including floods and fallen trees. Italian authorities declared a state of emergency in the wake of record rainfall.In protest of the decision to hold the match, Fiorentina's hardcore supporters announced their absence. Second-placed Juventus aimed to narrow the gap to Inter Milan to just two points with a win in Florence.Cagliari successfully moved out of the relegation zone with their second consecutive win, prevailing 2-1 against fellow promoted side Genoa. Coach Claudio Ranieri played a crucial role as his halftime substitutes, Nicolas Viola and Gabriele Zappa, scored the second-half goals that secured the three points.Cagliari now stand a point ahead of Verona, who find themselves just inside the relegation zone following a 3-1 home defeat at the hands of Monza.(With AFP inputs)