Genoa 1 : 0 AS Roma - Roma finish with defeat
Posted Sunday, May 18, 2014 by PA
Roma's most prosperous campaign in four years ended on a sour note as Genoa's Ioannis Fetfatzidis dealt the Serie A runners-up a 1-0 defeat on the final day.
Under new coach Rudi Garcia, Roma took the league by storm and led the table until Juventus ruthlessly took over at the top before clinching their third straight Scudetto with games to spare.
Fetfatzidis' late winner at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris meant the Giallorossi could not sign off with a positive result, but they can now plan for a summer of preparation for the Champions League group stages having plundered 85 points.
Roma last hit the 80-point mark in 2010, accrued 82 in 2008, and won the 2001 title with just 75 points - notwithstanding the fact the previous format saw clubs play only 34 games each season.
Mid-table Genoa have long since been assured of another year in the top flight and so there was a tangible end-of-term atmosphere at the Marassi.
The teams exchanged early attempts on goal more out of obligation than out of a desire to succeed, with Riccardo Centurion and Radja Nainggolan both going close.
Genoa came closer through Giuseppe Sculli in the 19th minute, but his powerful header on Sime Vrsaljko's cross was swept up by Lukasz Skorupski.
Giovanni Marchese had to make a desperate clearance when the ball bobbled loose in the Genoa box and, in the 25th minute, Adem Ljajic tested Mattia Perin with a venomous drive.
The Rossoblu goalkeeper was sent sprawling again before the half-hour mark as Mattia Destro whipped in a shot from outside the box.
Roma were turning the screw before the break and Rodrigo Taddei was next to test Perin's reflexes.
And just before half-time, Michel Bastos combined well with Ljajic to set up a scoring opportunity, but the Serbian took a poor shot which sailed harmlessly wide.
If the first period had been disappointing then the second half started with more of a whimper as Nainggolan's long-range sighter came to nothing.
The Belgian midfielder was probing again around the 62nd minute, but the Genoa defence repelled him before he could get a shot away.
Skorupski was finally called into action again when Fetfatzidis whipped a dangerous corner into the Roma box.
The stand-in Roma goalkeeper had enjoyed a quiet afternoon but seven minutes from time, he would be beaten by the Greece international.
Substitute Moussa Konate delivered the cross from deep that Fetfatzidis could not fail to turn home when left all alone in front of goal.
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