Seventh Heaven: Every 4-3 win in our history

Daniele Verde’s celebratory roar after making it 3-3, which seemed to extinguish any hopes Paulo Fonseca’s side had of clinching three points, was swiftly drowned out by a joyful release as Lorenzo Pellegrini tucked home the winner in stoppage time.

While Roma v Spezia may not have been the game of the century, the scoreline was the same as Italy’s dramatic victory over West Germany in the 1970 World Cup semi-finals, as the Giallorossi registered a 4-3 win for the ninth time in the club’s history and for the second season in succession under Fonseca.

In 2019-20, the Portuguese coach led Roma to a 4-3 win away to Cagliari in the club’s first success on the road by that scoreline in its 90+ year history. The only other Roma boss to have led the side to 4-3 victories in successive seasons is Luciano Spalletti.

During 2005-06, the 4-3 success over Cagliari behind closed doors on neutral ground in Rieti was the team’s eighth triumph on the spin. On the final day of the 2006-07 campaign, the Giallorossi beat Messina by the same scoreline, thanks to a Francesco Totti brace that earned him the European Golden Shoe.

We take a look back at Roma’s other eight dramatic 4-3 wins.

COPPA ITALIA 1974-75, ROMA 4-3 PESCARA

The first competitive game of a season in which the Giallorossi finished third in the table kicked off on 28 August 1974, with a Coppa Italia tie against Serie B outfit Pescara at the Stadio Flaminio.

Nils Liedholm’s troops raced into a 3-0 lead within 26 minutes thanks to goals by Franco Cordova, Giorgio Morini and Valerio Spadoni and progress to the next round was seemingly secured. The visitors had other ideas, however, and staged a remarkable comeback to get back on level terms at 3-3 against the odds, while the Giallorossi spurned a host of chances before Francesco Cordova dramatically made it 4-3 with just four minutes left on the clock to deservedly send Roma through.

SERIE A 1984-85, ROMA 4-3 INTER

The final home match and penultimate fixture of a Serie A campaign in which Sven-Goran Eriksson’s side finished seventh was a thriller for the Stadio Olimpico faithful to enjoy.

The Curva Sud was a sight to behold, with scarves and flags providing a stunning backdrop on a sunny 12 May, while on the pitch, the hosts were 4-1 to the good by the 51st minute. Carlo Ancelotti, Bruno Conti, Giuseppe Gianni and Roberto Pruzzo all got on the scoresheet, but there was nearly a dramatic twist, as goals by Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Alessandro Altobelli got Inter within touching distance of parity and ensured the final minutes were far from comfortable.

Roma eventually managed to hold on for a 4-3 win.

SERIE A 1996-97, ROMA 4-3 HELLAS VERONA

Roma had to fight for survival until the final stages of a tough 1996-97 season, with the victory over Verona one of the highlights from Carlos Bianchi’s tenure.

It turned out to be the Argentine coach’s last win in charge of the Giallorossi, given that he was dismissed after a heavy loss away to Juventus, a draw at home to Bologna and a defeat in Cagliari in the following three fixtures.

The three points against Verona did give the Giallorossi some breathing space in the table, with Vincent Candela notching a brace, as well as Luigi Di Biagio and a teenage Francesco Totti among the goals.

SERIE A 1997-98, ROMA 4-3 EMPOLI

Deep into a “Zemaniano” winter (a period of the football season in which the team struggles for results), Roma headed into the clash with Empoli on a six-game winless run in which they had only mustered four draws.

Zdenek Zeman’s charges had already beaten Luciano Spalletti’s side 3-1 on the opening day of the season at the Stadio Franchi in Florence, but it would prove to be much tighter than expected in the return fixture at the Stadio Olimpico. The Roma fans were unable to relax during a thriller in which the goals were flying in.

It went 1-0 Roma, 1-1, 2-1, 3-1, 3-2, 4-2 and finally 4-3. Abel Balbo played a key part in the win with a hat-trick, while “Pluto” Aldair bagged the hosts’ fourth and final goal.

SERIE A 2005-06, ROMA 4-3 CAGLIARI

This contest was played at a neutral venue behind closed doors, in Rieti, after Roma were banned from using their home stadium for one game.

Luciano Spalletti’s Giallorossi side came into the match in excellent form, off the back of seven straight wins in the league. The team went in search of an eighth consecutive victory with no fans on the terraces, but a gathering of around 200 Roma supporters outside the Stadio Manlio Scopigno more than made themselves heard, as they followed the match on the radio.

Roma fell 2-0 behind, before drawing level at 2-2 thanks to goals from Simone Perrotta and Daniele De Rossi. After Cagliari took a 3-2 lead, Francesco Totti scored twice from the penalty spot to earn a 4-3 victory.

SERIE A 2006-07, ROMA 4-3 MESSINA

On the final day of the season, with the Giallorossi already guaranteed a second-place finish and Champions League qualification, and with the club’s eighth Coppa Italia sewn up, the team faced Messina, who were condemned to relegation from Serie A.

The match held particular significance for Francesco Totti, who was in the running for the 2007 European Golden Shoe. He needed at least two goals and hoped not to be overtaken by Ruud Van Nistelrooy at Real Madrid. On a busy outing, Totti scored two and even missed a penalty.

On the day, the Roma forward found himself up against goalkeeper Alessandro Cesaretti, a Roman and a Roma fan, who was making his debut in Serie A at the age of 38 years and 6 months, becoming the second-oldest debutant in the history of Italy’s top flight.

Roma ultimately ran out 4-3 winners. Cesaretti was repeatedly teased by the fans in the south stand, who jokingly pointed to the number 71 on his back. It was an unforgettable day for the goalkeeper, as it was for Totti who won the Golden Shoe and topped the scoring charts.

SERIE A 2008-09, ROMA 4-3 CATANIA

Matchday 36 of the Serie A season. Luciano Spalletti’s men were in contention to qualify for Europe (they would go on to reach the preliminary rounds of the Europa League) but they needed a win in this one.

It proved to be a struggle against a Catania side coached by Walter Zenga, with the teams tied at three each going into the final stages, after a brace from Simone Perrotta and a goal from Mirko Vucinic.

The victory came in the end thanks to a close-range header from Christian Panucci.

SERIE A 2019-20, CAGLIARI 3-4 ROMA

In Roma’s final match before the lockdown imposed due to the Covid-19 health emergency, the team travelled to Cagliari. It was also the last game the Giallorossi played with supporters in the stands, albeit cheering on the home side.

At the end of a thrilling encounter in Sardinia, Roma left with three points thanks to a 4-3 victory, the first time the team had ever won by that score line away from home. Nikola Kalinic scored twice, while Justin Kluivert and Henrikh Mkhitaryan also got on the scoresheet.

The contest also saw Gonzalo Villar make his first start for the club.