MILAN: Edin Dzeko hit a series of blanks as Roma kept the pressure on leaders Juventus with a cagey 1-0 win at Genoa courtesy of Armando Izzo’s disastrous first-half own goal last night.
Roma’s 13th win of the campaign closed the gap on Juventus to one point before the champions, who also have another game in hand due to end-of-year Italian Super Cup commitments, were to host Bologna in last night’s late game.
Napoli, 2-1 winners over Sampdoria on Saturday when Lorenzo Tonelli grabbed a last-gasp winner on his debut for the southerners, are third.
Lazio remain in fourth, only a point behind Napoli, after Ciro Immobile made up for Lucas Biglia’s penalty miss at the Stadio Olimpico by striking in the final minute to secure a 1-0 win over dogged Crotone.
Roma coach Luciano Spalletti refused to criticise Dzeko, telling Rai Sport: “He had a great game because he never once made it easy for the opposition defence.
“He put himself about, especially at the end of the game to make sure we got the result we wanted.”
Dzeko is only one goal behind Serie A goals leader Mauro Icardi, who has hit the net 14 times for Inter Milan in the league this campaign.
Towering
But the towering Bosnian was kept on a tight leash by a Genoa side that barely six weeks ago inflicted a chastening 3-1 defeat on Juventus and when Dzeko did find clear chances, he was wasteful.
The hosts started brightly and Roma goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny had to dive to palm a curling shot by Diego Laxalt around his far post in the opening minutes.
At the other end a Dzeko snapshot forced Mattia Perin into action and, as he dived to stop the follow-up from Bruno Peres, the Italian goalkeeper suffered a suspected knee sprain that prompted his replacement by Eugenio Lamanna.
Roma were sorely missing Egyptian winger Mohamed Salah, who is on Africa Cup of Nations duty, but were gifted the lead in the 36th minute thanks to a double defensive blunder by Izzo.
The Italian first headed a poor clearance straight at Peres, then stuck out his shin to direct the Brazilian’s angled cross past Lamanna at the keeper’s near post.
Genoa regrouped and a free-kick from the left flank had Szczesny in a flap as Roma came under pressure during a brief Genoa assault before the interval.
The hosts threatened an equaliser in the final stages when Szczesny notably plucked a Lucas Ocampos strike out from under the crossbar.
But before then Dzeko disappointed by volleying a cross from Radja Nainggolan on to the upright, hitting the side-netting from Diego Perotti’s assist and then blasting over from Kevin Strootman’s delivery.
Atalanta’s stunning season continued with a 4-1 away win at Chievo where Alejandro Gomez notably hit a first-half brace to send the Bergamo side up to sixth at just seven points behind Juve.
Coach Gianpiero Gasperini later hailed a side whose players, including Franck Kessie, Andrea Conti and Roberto Gagliardini, are attracting outside interest.
Scouts from both Chelsea and Sevilla were reportedly in attendance to observe Kessie and Conti on Sunday, and Gasperini confirmed Gagliardini, who sat on the bench, was on his way to Inter Milan.