AS Roma collected all three points at the Stadio Via del Mare on Tuesday, cruising to a 2-0 victory over Lecce behind goals from Evan Ferguson and Artem Dovbyk in a composed Serie A performance.
Ferguson needed just 14 minutes to break the deadlock, capitalizing on Niccolò Pisilli’s assist to give the Giallorossi an early advantage. The Irish striker’s clinical finish set the tone for Roma’s evening, earning him a match-high 7.9 rating before being substituted at the hour mark with his job well done.
Lecce showed early frustration, with Lameck Banda cautioned in the fifth minute and Youssef Maleh picking up yellow just before the half-hour mark. Despite holding a marginal possession edge at 50.6%, the home side struggled to translate territorial control into meaningful chances, managing just one shot on target from six attempts.
Roma’s defensive quartet proved impenetrable throughout. Polish defender Jan Ziółkowski impressed with three interceptions alongside a 7.5 rating, while Zeki Çelik matched that mark on the opposite flank. Daniele Ghilardi added two interceptions of his own, as Roma’s backline limited Lecce to minimal threatening opportunities.
The visitors sealed the result in the 71st minute when Dovbyk found the net, effectively ending any hopes of a Lecce comeback. Desperate for a response, the hosts made five substitutions, including the introduction of Francesco Camarda and Mory Kaba, but Roma’s defensive discipline remained intact.
Bryan Cristante collected a late yellow card in the 86th minute during a heated moment that also saw Lecce’s Kialonda Gaspar booked, but the match was already decided.
The statistics reflected an evenly-contested affair—both sides registered two corners and identical pass completion rates at 80%—but Roma’s superior cutting edge proved decisive, converting three of ten shots while goalkeeper Mile Svilar was rarely tested behind his stellar defensive shield.
