Henrikh Mkhitaryan stole the show with a hat-trick tonight, scoring all the goals as Roma won 3-1 at Genoa in the Serie A Round 7.
Roma went into today’s game having not lost in eight games in all competitions (at least on the pitch…) but without their captain Edin Dzeko – who tested positive for coronavirus. They faced a Genoa side who’d not won in five Serie A outings.
The difference in class showed from the off; Genoa were pegged back inside their own half for much of the opening stages and soon after, the chances started to open up for Roma. Henrikh Mkhitaryan seemed to be in the right spot at the right time, all the time today – he came closest to the opening goal when his fearsome shot was deflected onto the bar by Genoa goalkeeper Mattia Perin.
The Armenian was always going to be the first on the scoresheet tonight, and he confirmed that when he met a Jordan Veretout corner and headed into the back of the net for his first Serie A goal of the season.
Half-time immediately followed the goal, and after the restart it seemed like Roma would go on to have an easy second-half. But just five minutes into the second, Genoa had an equalizer against the run of play; Marko Pjaca casually slid home for the home side.
Roma though were not disheartened, and it would again be Mkhitaryan who stole the show for the capital club; he got his second and put Roma back on their path to victory with a coolly taken goal on 66 minutes, set-up well by Bruno Peres who had a fine game tonight.
The hat-trick goal would follow with five minutes to play, and probably the pick of the bunch. A floated ball in from Pedro found the Armenian with bags of space inside the Genoa box, and he volleyed home into the bottom corner to seal the win. A convincing performance tonight, and a Man of the Match one from Mkhitaryan.
MATCH REPORT
November 8, 2020 – Serie A 2020-2021 Round 7
GENOA-ROMA 1-3
SCORERS: 45+2′ Mkhitaryan (R), 50′ Pjaca (G), 67′ Mkhitaryan (R), 85′ Mkhitaryan (R)
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GENOA (4-2-3-1): Perin; Biraschi, Masiello (69′ Ghiglione), Bani, Criscito; Lerager (81′ Destro), Radovanovic (69′ Lu. Pellegrini); Rovella, Pjaca (60′ Pandev), Zajc (81′ Badelj); Scamacca (Marchetti, Paleari, Goldaniga, Behrami, Melegoni, Parigini, Czyborra) Coach: Maran |
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ROMA (3-4-2-1): Pau Lopez; Mancini, Smalling, Ibañez; Karsdorp, Lo. Pellegrini (87′ Villar), Veretout, Spinazzola (14′ Bruno Peres); Mkhitaryan, Pedro; Mayoral (60′ Cristante) (Mirante, Farelli, Juan Jesus, Fazio, Kumbulla, Darboe, Providence, Pogba) Coach: Conte |
REFEREE: Mr. Irrati from Pistoia
NOTES: Yellow Cards: Zajc (G); Extra Time: 1st Half 1′, 2nd Half 4′
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