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Christian Panucci is making a habit of scoring crucial goals, as he netted a last-gasp Roma winner away to Genoa.
The Giallorossi came to Marassi without their travelling fans after the rioting in Rome, but also a host of injured players including Francesco Totti, Simone Perrotta, Rodrigo Taddei, Alberto Aquilani and Philippe Mexes. Genoa needed a result after slipping to 12th place with a 2-0 defeat at Reggina. Cesare Bovo faced his former club in the first edition of this Serie A fixture since 1995.
After just four minutes Marco Cassetti got away down the left to cross for Amantino Mancini, whose header was well saved by Rubinho. Moments later from the other flank Max Tonetto just failed to get the final touch to a David Pizarro through ball.
Roma had the better of the early play as Pizarro's corner kick was nodded just off target by Christian Panucci, who scored Italy's crucial goal in the 2-1 Euro 2008 qualifying win in Scotland last week.
Marco Borriello gave Genoa a look-in with a splendid solo effort, as he was surrounded by four defenders but still got a shot away that flashed across the face of goal.
Borriello had the best chance of the game so far on 29 minutes, as he came sliding on to a Juric cross and forced a desperate one-handed Alexander Doni save from point-blank range.
The Rossoblu got their tails up and continued to pour forward for the rest of the first half, as Juan deflected an Abdullay Konko screamer round the post. After the restart Borriello won back the ball in midfield and Doni spilled his shot, but De Rossi's clearance prevented a goal.
Roma were angry with the referee when Mirko Vucinic seemed to have a good penalty shout waved away for Bega's manhandling in the box. A corner came out to Tonetto and De Rossi redirected the shot just past the near post.
Marco Di Vaio came on as Genoa tried to go for the victory, but so did Roma with Ludovic Giuly for Matteo Brighi. Matteo Paro hit an absolute thunderbolt with his right foot from outside the area that beat Doni only to shake the frame of the goal to its very foundations.
Matteo Ferrari was booked and will be suspended for the match with Udinese.
Roma really should have scored on 75 minutes. Mancini's cross from the right found a Vucinic header that Rubinho acrobatically palmed on to the underside of the crossbar. De Rossi pounced on the loose ball from a yard, but once again Rubinho got in the way and received a knee to the face for his trouble as the Italian international tumbled into the net.
A disappointing Mancini made way for Mauro Esposito in the final minutes, but Di Vaio was halted for a debatable offside flag when clear on goal.
There was a curious moment on 88 minutes when Juric was booked for a foul. He then blocked the resulting free kick with his arms in front of his face, but escaped a second yellow card.
When the kick was eventually taken by Pizarro, Panucci was at the back post to turn a free header into the ground from six yards. It was his second decisive goal in seven days, having seen Italy through to Euro 2008.
Genoa did not give in and Bovo drilled a daisy-cutter just wide of the upright, but it was too late.
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