Roma 2-0 Genoa: Four-game winless run ended despite Edin Dzeko red card

Ten-man Roma snapped a four-game winless streak in Serie A with a convincing 2-0 home victory over Genoa.

The capital club had lost ground in the title race after dropping nine points in a month but now have the Champions League places back in their sights after goals from Alessandro Florenzi and substitute Sadiq Umar.

Edin Dzeko was dismissed for losing his temper in the final stages, yet toothless Genoa could not take advantage and sank to 17th in the table.

With surprise package Empoli snapping at their heels in sixth, Roma were determined to strengthen their hold on a European spot and they started brightly, with Dzeko and Gervinho looking particularly lively.

Genoa kept them out, almost scoring themselves through Serge Gakpe's right-footed drive in the 42nd minute.

But seconds later it was Roma who made the breakthrough as Ezequiel Munoz failed to deal with Lucas Digne's cross, allowing Florenzi to blast home on the volley.

The Giallorossi almost doubled up in the 47th minute when Mohamed Salah burst past Cristian Ansaldi only to rifle the ball wide of the mark, and Genoa reacted with Darko Lazovic testing Wojciech Szczesny's reflexes.

Dzeko was furious when referee Andrea Gervasoni waved play-on after Munoz had appeared to obstruct him and, as the Bosnian would not let the matter lie, the official dismissed him for protesting too much.

Then, with time running out, 18-year-old Nigerian striker Sadiq clambered off the bench to rubber-stamp Roma's victory with a header from William Vainqueur's cross.