[ITA] Serie A 2007/2008 (45 Viewers)
- Thread starter Rami
- Start date
- Status
Panucci The Last Minute Hero Once Again
Genoa 0-1 Roma
Roma earned a crucial 1-0 away win against Genoa thanks to a last-gasp goal by Christian Panucci, who was also the hero for Italy last week against Scotland.
Roma were under pressure to get a result in this tough away tie as a win would have allowed them to reach Inter on top of the table, ahead of the Nerazzurri's easy-looking match tonight against Atalanta at San Siro.
Genoa had lost just once at home, on the opening day of the season against Milan (0-3), so it was certainly wasn't going to be easy for Luciano Spalletti's boys.
This turned out to be the case, as only a last-minute goal by Christian Panucci, who's becoming something of a specialist in crucial last-minute goals from dead ball situations, allowed Roma to take all three points after a balanced match.
The Giallorossi lined up with a 4-2-3-1 formation with Amantino Mancini, David Pizarro, and Max Tonetto behind lone striker Mirko vucinic, while Genoa played in a 4-3-3 system with Giuseppe Sculli, Marco Borriello and Julio Leon.
The first chance of the match came after just six minutes, when Tonetto nearly got a touch on a low cross by Pizarro, but he could not coordinate himself well enough to get to the ball.
Roma continued to be more dangerous, and in the 14th minute Vucinic came close as he tried to turn in a cross by Marco Cassetti, but he couldn't quite get it on target.
The first chance for Genoa came in the 29th minute, as Borriello was found by a pass from Ivan Juric, only to see his close-range effort parried away by goalkeeper Alexandre Doni.
There were no more major chances in the first half, although it was an entertaining and balanced match until that point.
The second half began without either side making any changes. In the 48th minute, Borriello made himself dangerous again as he made an impressive run, but his eventual shot was blocked by Doni, before midfielder Daniele De Rossi cleared the ball away for a corner.
In the 56th minute De Rossi, who frequently tried his luck with shots from distance, found himself in a good position to shoot but could not coordinate himself well and sent the ball wide.
A big chance came for Genoa in the 70th minute, as midfielder Matteo Paro hit a powerful shot from outside the area that beat Doni, but the Brazilian goalkeeper was saved by the woodwork.
Roma responded five minutes later, as goalkeeper Rubinho came up with a miraculous save on a header by Vucinic from a cross by Mancini. The ball came off the crossbar after Rubinho got his hand to it, and then De Rossi tried to get to it but he was too late.
Both sides could have won it, and perhaps a draw would have been the fairest result. But there was going to be a winner after all.
It was the 90th minute when Pizarro sent in a free kick that found Panucci all alone close to the goal, and he had no problems nodding the ball in. With his qualification-clinching goal for the Azzurri in mind, which was quite similar to this one, the Genoa defence will rue not having paid more attention to the Italian international.
With this all-important win, Roma are now top of the table with 25 points like Inter, who host Atalanta tonight. Genoa, meanwhile, are 12th with 14 points.
goal.com
Genoa 0-1 Roma
Roma earned a crucial 1-0 away win against Genoa thanks to a last-gasp goal by Christian Panucci, who was also the hero for Italy last week against Scotland.
Roma were under pressure to get a result in this tough away tie as a win would have allowed them to reach Inter on top of the table, ahead of the Nerazzurri's easy-looking match tonight against Atalanta at San Siro.
Genoa had lost just once at home, on the opening day of the season against Milan (0-3), so it was certainly wasn't going to be easy for Luciano Spalletti's boys.
This turned out to be the case, as only a last-minute goal by Christian Panucci, who's becoming something of a specialist in crucial last-minute goals from dead ball situations, allowed Roma to take all three points after a balanced match.
The Giallorossi lined up with a 4-2-3-1 formation with Amantino Mancini, David Pizarro, and Max Tonetto behind lone striker Mirko vucinic, while Genoa played in a 4-3-3 system with Giuseppe Sculli, Marco Borriello and Julio Leon.
The first chance of the match came after just six minutes, when Tonetto nearly got a touch on a low cross by Pizarro, but he could not coordinate himself well enough to get to the ball.
Roma continued to be more dangerous, and in the 14th minute Vucinic came close as he tried to turn in a cross by Marco Cassetti, but he couldn't quite get it on target.
The first chance for Genoa came in the 29th minute, as Borriello was found by a pass from Ivan Juric, only to see his close-range effort parried away by goalkeeper Alexandre Doni.
There were no more major chances in the first half, although it was an entertaining and balanced match until that point.
The second half began without either side making any changes. In the 48th minute, Borriello made himself dangerous again as he made an impressive run, but his eventual shot was blocked by Doni, before midfielder Daniele De Rossi cleared the ball away for a corner.
In the 56th minute De Rossi, who frequently tried his luck with shots from distance, found himself in a good position to shoot but could not coordinate himself well and sent the ball wide.
A big chance came for Genoa in the 70th minute, as midfielder Matteo Paro hit a powerful shot from outside the area that beat Doni, but the Brazilian goalkeeper was saved by the woodwork.
Roma responded five minutes later, as goalkeeper Rubinho came up with a miraculous save on a header by Vucinic from a cross by Mancini. The ball came off the crossbar after Rubinho got his hand to it, and then De Rossi tried to get to it but he was too late.
Both sides could have won it, and perhaps a draw would have been the fairest result. But there was going to be a winner after all.
It was the 90th minute when Pizarro sent in a free kick that found Panucci all alone close to the goal, and he had no problems nodding the ball in. With his qualification-clinching goal for the Azzurri in mind, which was quite similar to this one, the Genoa defence will rue not having paid more attention to the Italian international.
With this all-important win, Roma are now top of the table with 25 points like Inter, who host Atalanta tonight. Genoa, meanwhile, are 12th with 14 points.
goal.com
- Status