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

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.

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.