Two goals from in-form Gervinho, including the winner two minutes from time, gave Roma a thrilling 3-2 victory in their Italian Cup semi-final first leg against Napoli at the Stadio Olimpico, last night.

Roma went in for the break leading 2-0 but the visitors fought back to equalise before Gervinho struckagain.

Napoli were under pressure following the 3-0 drubbing to Atalanta in the league last weekend and their chances did not look good as Gervinho ran on to reach a Francesco Totti pass before flicking the ball over keeper Pepe Reina.

Rafa Benitez’s team had a couple of chances to score but it was Roma who doubled their lead just past the half-hour mark thanks to a Kevin Strootman piledriver.

Napoli halved the deficit soon after the restart when keeper Morgan de Sanctis committed an own goal in his attempt to keep out a Gonzalo Higuain attempt at goal.

And 20 minutes from time substitute Dries Mertens made it 2-2 after dribbling his way through the middle before beating De Sanctis.

A draw looked in the offing but Gervinho had other ideas and on 88 minutes as he beat the offside trap to reach an Alessandro Florenzi pass and fire past Reina.

The second leg will be at the San Paolo next Wednesday.

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