Francesco Totti helps Roma rally to victory at Genoa

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:59 am
Mohamed Salah and Stephan El Shaarawy both scored as Roma came from behind to defeat Genoa.
GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP/Getty Images

Substitute Francesco Totti once again inspired Roma to a dramatic late victory as the Giallorossi rallied to beat Genoa 3-2 at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

The 39-year-old striker had scored three key goals from the bench in recent matches and further strengthened his claim for a new contract with the capital club by notching from the bench in Genoa and inspiring Stephan El Shaarawy to plunder a last-gasp winner.

Mohamed Salah's early goal had been cancelled out by Panagiotis Tachtsidis before Leonardo Pavoletti briefly fired Genoa into the lead. That, however, was Totti's cue to come to the party.

Roma knew victory at the Marassi would boost them into second place in Serie A -- temporarily at least -- and they wasted no time setting about their hosts.

Salah grabbed the opener after only six minutes, the Egyptian playing a one-two with former Genoa winger Diego Perotti before beating Eugenio Lamanna with an angled drive.

But it took the Grifone just eight minutes to equalise. Tachtsidis -- a Roma player three years ago -- put the ball out of Wojciech Szczesny's reach after collecting Diego Laxalt's assist.

Roma should have restored their lead before the break but El Shaarawy found himself thwarted by Lamanna on three separate occasions.

Genoa used half-time to regroup and returned to the pitch in an ebullient mood.

Suso ran riot in the visitors' half, twice rasping shots just past Szczesny's goal and, in the 66th minute, the Rossoblu got their reward.

Pavoletti was the man in the middle when Tomas Rincon passed into the Roma box and the finish was unstoppable.

Totti had been on the pitch as Perotti's replacement since the hour mark but waited until the 77th minute to make his presence felt.

From a long-range free kick, the evergreen forward rasped the ball over Lamanna's shoulder to level the tie.

Encouraged by their veteran team-mate, Roma pushed hard for the winner and found it through El Shaarawy three minutes from time.

Edin Dzeko supplied the through ball and Lamanna was soon bested by a powerful effort for the third time in the match.