Eusebio Di Francesco lives to fight another day as Roma coach after his side emerged 3-2 victors from their must-win Serie A clash with Genoa in Rome.
Widespread reports in the build-up to the game suggested that anything other than a win would see the former Sassuolo boss shown the door, but his side fought back from behind twice to earn three points and move them into sixth place.
Federico Fazio and Justin Kluivert responded to strikes from Serie A top scorer Krzysztof Piatek and Oscar Hiljemark in the first half before Bryan Cristante netted the winner after the break.
There was a tense atmosphere from the start as an eerie silence settled over the stadium, with the Curva Sud deciding not to sing for the first 10 minutes of the game to protest James Pallotta’s ownership of the club.
Once time was up the stadium exploded into noise as chants were directed against the club hierarchy, but the atmosphere soured even further on the 17th minute when Genoa went in front as Hiljemark’s shot from the edge of the area squirmed through Robin Olsen’s legs for Piatek to slide in for his 12th league goal of the season.
The visitors’ lead lasted just 15 minutes though, as Fazio latched onto Nicolo Zaniolo’s flick-on to side foot a finish past Ionut Radu. Regardless, his name was booed by the home support when the defender was announced as the scorer over the stadium tannoy.
Incredibly, Genoa were back in front within two minutes as Sandro nodded a corner towards the back post where Hiljemark was lurking for a close-range finish. To top off a helter-skelter first half, Kluivert burst through the Genoa defence with searing pace before arrowing a finish into the bottom corner.
Within a minute of the restart Cengiz Under had a glorious chance to put the Lupi in front, but he blasted over the bar from 12 yards out with the goal gaping after Radu had pushed a cross into his path.
Olsen cut a relieved figure just moments later when he let Darko Lazovic’s shot wriggle under his body, as the goal was chalked off for offside following a VAR review.
Roma then took the lead for the first time as the clock hit the hour mark, Cristante playing a one-two with Kluivert before drilling a low shot past Radu.
The midfielder then squandered a golden chance to put the result beyond doubt when he hit the post as he attempted to tuck in a Radu parry, before substitute Goran Pandev blasted over a great chance from seven yards out with one minute of regulation time remaining.
Trouble brewing in Rome
Angry, eerie, uncomfortable. There are many words that could be used to describe the atmosphere inside the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday and they would all go some way to explaining the mood of the Roma faithful after their worst start to a league season in seven years.
The players were booed by their own fans during the warm-up, booed as the line-up was read out before the game – with the exception of Nicolo Zaniolo and Daniele De Rossi – and booed throughout the 90 minutes, including those who got their names on the scoresheet.
The first 10 minutes were particularly unsettling as the Curva Sud refused to sing or chant as part of a protest against President James Pallotta. And while Eusebio Di Francesco has clearly lost the backing of most fans – his name was the most loudly contested of all – the root unhappiness extends far beyond his stewardship.
DiFra may have done enough to buy himself some time with this unconvincing win, but one thing was made abundantly clear in the stands tonight: his sacking is not going to be a panacea in the eyes of the disgruntled Giallorossi followers.
Tough start for Prandelli
It’s not been the easiest start to life on the Genoa bench for Cesare Prandelli, who managed to lead his side to a draw at home to SPAL last weekend on his debut – but only after Domenico Criscito was sent off just 11 minutes in.
The squad he inherited had gone nine games without a win and that run has now been extended to 11, but the former Italy CT can take some solace in the fact that his team managed to find the net more than once in a league game for the first time since October.
Enrico Preziosi’s managerial merry-go-round hasn’t exactly created an air of stability at the Marassi this season, with Prandelli being coach No.3 already, and with fixtures against Atalanta, Cagliari and Fiorentina still to come before the winter break he has the chance to head into a new year with a fresh sense of purpose and optimism.
Source: forzaitalianfootball.com