Roma 3-2 Pescara: Match report, reaction and key statistics

After Edin Dzeko scored twice inside the first 10 minutes against one of Serie A’s struggling sides, it looked like being a straightforward evening for Luciano Spalletti’s side – but things are rarely so simple and predictable when it comes to the Giallorossi.

Pescara captain Ledian Memushaj grabbed a goal back on the hour-mark, before Diego Perotti won and converted a penalty soon after to restore the two-goal cushion. But then ex-Roma man Gianluca Caprari fired home from distance – setting up an agonizingly final 20 minutes as the hosts fended off their resurgent opponents and hung on for the win.

The performance might not have been ideal but the three points was the main thing – Roma moving back to four points behind league leaders Juventus (who lost earlier in the day at Genoa) as a result.

Few Giallorossi players – or, indeed, fans – may look back on this game with too much affection, although it could yet prove to be a turning point in the season. Nevertheless it was notable for a number of reasons: Daniele De Rossi came on as a substitute to make his 400th Serie A appearance for the club, while Radja Nainggolan captained the side as he brought up a century of league games for the team.

On the pitch it was Dzeko who continued his recent scintillating form, firing home twice in the space of four minutes to take his total tally to 17 for the season. The first illustrated his strength – holding off his defender to side-foot home from a corner – while the second showed his intelligence and growing confidence, as he timed his run perfectly to steer Perotti’s cross calmly past the goalkeeper.

That really should have been enough to put the home side in full control, and for almost an hour they were. But two potshots from Pescara got them back into the contest, and ultimately it was Perotti’s latest moment of magic feet inside the opposition box that ensured victory would be clinched.

The Argentine was once again brought down after his quick movement and technique fooled the defender, and once again he took on the responsibility for scoring himself. Again he made no mistake: sending Bizzarri the wrong way and nestling the ball inside the side-netting.

It would ultimately prove the match-winner, although not without a number of scares.

Team selection

There was a couple of landmark selections in Luciano Spalletti's side - with Gerson making his first Serie A start of his career in central midfield, while captain for the day Radja Nainggolan made his 100th league appearance in Giallorossi colours.

The midfielder wore the armband because Daniele De Rossi was named on the bench - meaning he had to wait for his own milestone, a 400th Serie A appearance.

Key moments

FIRST HALF

4’: Bahebeck goes off injured – an early blow for Pescara.

5’: First chance for Roma - Dzeko plays in Salah brilliantly, but the Egyptian's shot rolls agonisingly wide!

7’: GOAL! ROMA LEAD! From a deep out-swinging corner, Dzeko holds off his defender inside the six-yard box and turns the ball home! The perfect start! 1-0!

10’: GOAL! DZEKO AGAIN!! This time it's Perotti who delivers the perfect cross from the left, and Dzeko times his run perfectly and delivers a clinical finish! 2-0!

20': Radja fires at Bizzarri from just inside the box, but the goalkeeper saves well.

23': Two good chances for the visitors: Szczesny saves and holds from Pepe, and then denies Benali from 12 yards.

27': A fine save from Bizzarri! Salah's shot from the edge of the box is charged down, but then Radja's curler forces a finger-tip stop!

45': So close to the hat-trick! Perotti tees up Dzeko again, but this time he heads narrowly over at the far post!

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See more images in our match gallery.

SECOND HALF

53': GREAT SAVE SZCZESNY! Pescara exploit a lapse in the Roma defence, but Woj denies Pepe at point-blank range!

56': SZCZESNY AGAIN! This time the 'keeper reacts brilliantly to parry away Verre's strike. The hosts need to focus...

61: Goal. Pescara get one back. Memushaj finds the bottom corner with an unerring strike... 2-1.

63': Radja goes for it alone and narrowly misses the bottom corner from 25 yards!

68': PENALTY FOR ROMA! PEROTTI IS TRIPPED IN THE BOX!!

73’: GOAL! Perotti sends Bizzarri the wrong way ... and it's exactly what Roma needed. 3-1!

74': Goal. Another for Pescara. Caprari catches one sweetly from outside the box and it flies in... 3-2.

79': Pescara are shooting whenever they get a sight of goal... this time Verre lashes wide from 30 yards.

83': Totti's perfectly measured pass plays in Salah - but his shot is saved!

84': SAVE! Totti, Salah and Dzeko combine in a sweeping move ... and then Bizzarri dives to deny Strootman!

89': De Rossi is robbed ... and then makes a vital covering block!

See more match statistics in our match centre.

Social media reaction

Roma reaction

"It was a big three points for us ... This will sound banal but when you’re leading and are under pressure, you need to hold onto the ball. Today we didn’t do that at all and gave them a way back into the game."

- Daniele De Rossi

"We started well, going 2-0 up quite early on. Then we lost our way a bit, losing too many balls. It got tough out there. That’s not how it should be. It was not easy, but we’ve bagged the three points.”

- Edin Dzeko

What's next?

The Giallorossi now enter a potentially critical run of fixtures - starting with next Sunday's appointment with Lazio in the Derby della Capitale.

After that follows the final Europa League group game, against Astra Giurgiu in Bucharest, before another home league game at the Olimpico against AC Milan the following Monday.

ROMA 3-2 PESCARA

Goalscorers: Dzeko (7', 10'), Perotti (71' p.); Memushaj (60'), Caprari (74')

Roma: Szczesny; Peres, Rudiger, Fazio, Emerson; Strootman, Nainggolan (De Rossi), Gerson (Totti); Salah (Vermaelen), Dzeko, Perotti.

Pescara: Bizzarri; Vitturini (Verre), Zuparic, Biraghi; Zampano, Memushaj, Brugman, Crescenzi; Benali (Cristante), Caprari; Bahebeck (Caprari).