Four-star Roma beat Palermo

Posted Monday, November 05, 2012 by skysports.com

Erik Lamela celebrates

Roma reacted to recent criticism after suffering back-to-back defeats with a clinical 4-1 win over Palermo at the Stadio Olimpico.

Francesco Totti put the Giallorossi ahead in the 11th minute and further goals from Pablo Osvaldo, Erik Lamela and Mattia Destro sealed a comfortable three points.

Josip Ilicic grabbed a consolation after Destro was sent off, but the win was never in any doubt and could have been even greater as Roma continued to push forward.

Much has been said of Roma coach Zdenek Zeman's tactics, but one thing which cannot be denied is that he never caves in to the pressure to change his ways.

Not even successive defeats against Udinese and Parma tempted the Czech to abandon his attacking instincts, and this time, he was able to have the last laugh.

Totti headed Roma in front in the 11th minute. Samir Ujkani pushed his first header onto the post, but the ball fell back out for the Roma captain to nod in.

Osvaldo missed several chances to double their lead before capitalising on a clash between Ujkani and Palermo defender Ezequiel Munoz to slide the ball into the unguarded goal from a tight angle in the 30th minute.

Nicolas Burdisso saw his header pushed away by Ujkani as Roma threatened to run riot at the Olimpico.

Osvaldo missed the target again in the 57th minute before Panagiotis Tachtsidis made it look easy as he squared the ball for Lamela to grab his seventh goal of the season at the far post in the 69th minute.

Ten minutes later, Totti invited Destro to make it four, and the Italy under-21 international rounded Ujkani to score, but his celebrations were dampened by the referee, who showed him a second yellow card after he removed his shirt.

Roma would be denied a clean sheet, though, as Ilicic picked up the ball after Burdisso and Fabrizio Miccoli both clashed, and he curled his shot into the top corner to earn Palermo a late consolation in the 84th minute.