MILAN, Sep 29: Roma’s problems increased Thursday as it was humiliated 4-1 at promoted Genoa in Serie A.
Mateo Retegui scored again for Genoa and there were also goals for Albert Guomundsson, Morten Thorsby and Junior Messias in the team’s first home win of the season.
Bryan Cristante scored Roma’s sole goal and Jose Mourinho’s side has just one win in its opening six league matches to leave it 16th in the table with just five points. Genoa has two points more after its first home win of the season.
The whole Roma team and Mourinho gathered in front of the traveling fans at the end of the match. Roma had a poor start to the season but had thought it had turned things around with a 7-0 win over Empoli, although it followed that up with a 1-1 draw at Torino.
However, it got off to the worst possible start when Guomundsson fired Genoa in front in the fifth minute.
Cristante headed Roma level in the 22nd but Retegui restored Genoa’s lead with a delightful team goal on the stroke of halftime. Guðmundsson turned several Roma players before crossing for Thorsby, who backheeled it to Retegui to control the ball and then smash it into the back of the net
It was Retegui’s fifth goal in Italian football since the Argentina-born Italy international joined Genoa in the offseason.
Romelu Lukaku thought he had leveled again for Roma with his fourth goal in five matches since joining from Chelsea but his strike was ruled out for offside.
Thorsby all but sealed the win with a 74th-minute header before Messias added to Roma’s misery nine minutes from time. It was both players’ first goals for Genoa. (AP)
