MILAN: A superb scissor-kick from Radja Nainggolan helped secure the points as Roma closed the gap on Serie A leaders Juventus to just a point yesterday after a 1-0 defeat of 10-man Genoa.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s high-flyers welcomed Roma looking for their seventh win in 10 games but the visitors were given a huge incentive after Sampdoria held Juventus to a 1-1 draw in Turin.
Roma were given a boost on the half hour when goalkeeper Matti Perin was issued a straight red card for a challenge on Nainggolan as the Belgian international tried to round him to the left of goal.
Although replacement Eugenio Lamanna did well to stop Adem Ljajic’s resulting spot-kick, Roma’s advantage would eventually tell.
Nainggolan found himself in plenty of space five minutes before half-time and produced a fine piece of mid-air wizardry to fire Maicon’s delivery past a helpless Lamanna.
The result has given a huge boost to Rudi Garcia’s men only days after their failure to reach the last 16 of the Champions League following a 2-0 home defeat to Manchester City.
Juventus secured their ticket for the competition’s knockout phase but their endeavours in Europe will be welcomed by Roma, who are now free to focus on their main objective of winning a first scudetto since 2001.
Elsewhere, Luca Toni scored his 300th career goal as Verona claimed a precious 2-1 away win at Udinese thanks to Lazaros Christodoulopoulos’s winner. Antonio Di Natale scored his 201st Serie A goal for Udinese to close to within four of Roberto Baggio’s 205-goal tally.
Parma picked up a precious point from their first draw of the season at home to Cagliari, although Roberto Donadoni’s men remain rooted to the foot of the table. Earlier, Manolo Gabbiadini struck in the second half to put the brakes on Juventus’s title charge as Sampdoria grabbed a 1-1 draw in Turin.
Frenchman Patrice Evra gave the Italian champions a half-time lead when he headed home from a corner in the 12th minute to score his first goal for the club.
However Sampdoria, who handed Juventus their last home defeat, in January 2013, were back on level terms six minutes after the restart after Italy striker Gabbiadini came off the bench to beat Gianluigi Buffon with a fine curling drive. Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri, who left Andrea Pirlo on the bench throughout, was left lamenting the series of chances the hosts spurned in a one-sided first half.
“We played well for 55 minutes, but in the opening half hour we just couldn’t take the chances we created,” said Allegri.
“The team did everything they could but we knew it was going to a difficult game. Unfortunately, we just didn’t finish if off when we had the chance.”
Sampdoria coach Sinisa Mihajlovic called for “eleven warriors” on the pitch at Juventus Stadium, but his side looked lost in an opening half.
“For the opening half hour we suffered. I didn’t expect my players to have so much fear,” said Mihajlovic.
But Samp were handed a lifeline after Gabbiadini came off the bench to level six minutes after the restart.
Gabbiadini finished off a nice Samp build-up by collecting Eder’s pass on the right edge of the area and beating Buffon with a curling drive at the ‘keeper’s far post.
“He (Gabbiadini) has to have more courage and be a bit more daring,” added Mihajlovic.
“He hasn’t shown that in training so I started him on the bench. He is a nice lad, but everyone has to show they deserve their place.”
Lazio sit in third place, nine points adrift of Roma, following a 3-0 win over Atalanta on Saturday although Sampdoria, in fourth, and fifth-placed Genoa also have 26 points.AFP
