Roma registered their first victory since November 8 with a slender 2-0 win over Genoa at the Stadio Olimpico.
Alessandro Florenzi netted the opener four minutes shy of half-time before Edin Dzeko’s petulance resulted in a red on 73 minutes. Umar Sadiq doubled the hosts’ advantage minutes before full-time to alleviate the pressure on Rudi Garcia.
Roma’s threat on the counterattack was evident within three minutes as Gervinho controlled Edin Džeko knockdown before threading through Miralem Pjanic, but the Ivorian’s pass was overhit.
Genoa held their own during the opening exchanges and went close on 12 minutes from a set piece. Diego Capel beat Radja Nainggolan at the far post before Sebastian De Maio headed over from close range.
Daniele De Rossi nodded over from Alessandro Florenzi’s delightful dink into the penalty area as the Giallorossi faithful inside the Stadio Olimpico began to grow restless at the dearth of clear-cut opportunities.
Serge Gakpe then stung the palms of Wojciech Szczesny from distance on 41 minutes.
Strong characters had been required to help drag Roma from the mire and it was Alessandro Florenzi who popped up with the opener minutes before the interval.
Lucas Digne floated a low centre into the danger area and, aided by a deflection, Florenzi arrived at the back post to rifle his volley past Mattia Perin.
The second-half had barely begun before Mohamed Salah latched onto Kostas Manolas’ unerring pass from defence, sped away from Christian Ansaldi and prodded a tame effort wide of the mark.
Szczesny was prompted into action minutes later when Armando Izzo manufactured space and curled a menacing effort towards the top corner.
Gervinho spurned a golden opportunity to double the hosts advantage when he failed to connect with Florenzi’s clip towards the far stick.
71 minutes had elapsed before Roma threatened Perin’s goal again. Dzeko exhibited his peerless hold-up play by releasing Nainggolan on the right. The Belgian fizzed the ball across the face of goal but after Perin could not hold his cross, Dzeko pounced and his close range effort was thwarted on the line by Ezequiel Munoz.
The Bosnian was sent sprawling to the floor on 73 minutes and after the referee turned a blind eye, the forward received his marching orders for yelling an obscenity in the face of the official.
Genoa hoarded possession during the latter stages but were unable to pierce through the Roma backline.
The game entered its dying embers before Umar Sadiq dispatched William Vainqueur’s delightful cross beyond Perin for his first Serie A goal
The result leaves the visitors two points clear of the relegation zone, while Roma closed the gap on fourth placed Juventus.
