Roma win match interrupted by Ndicka collapse

Bryan Cristante scored a stoppage-time winner as Roma beat Udinese 2-1 on Thursday after completing the Serie A game that was suspended earlier this month when Evan Ndicka collapsed on the pitch.

🅰️➕⚽️#UdineseRoma 1-2 pic.twitter.com/xmTn3fdS6u

— AS Roma (@OfficialASRoma) April 25, 2024

The two teams played the final 18 minutes and 30 seconds in Udine of a fixture that was halted on 14 April after Roma defender Ndicka dropped to the ground in the second half, with what was initially feared to be a heart attack.

Roma later said it appeared the 24-year-old Ivory Coast international had suffered a collapsed lung, with no cardiac issues detected in multiple tests before he was discharged from hospital.

He has since been given the green light to return to training.

The score at the time of Ndicka's collapse was 1-1 following a 23rd-minute goal by Roberto Pereyra for the hosts and a 64th-minute equaliser by Romelu Lukaku.

On Thursday, Cristante headed home Paulo Dybala's corner in the fifth minute of time added on to secure a vital win for Roma that sent them four points clear of Atalanta in the race for Italy's fifth Champions League qualifying spot.

Atalanta, who like Roma have reached this season's Europa League semifinals, have a game in hand on Daniele De Rossi's team. The two sides are also due to meet next month in Bergamo.