Roma 1 : 0 Chievo - Roma keep Euro dream alive

Posted Saturday, April 23, 2011 by PA

Roma kept alive their faint hopes of a top-four finish in Serie A with a narrow 1-0 home triumph over Chievo.

Simone Perrotta's first-half goal at the Stadio Olimpico was the difference between the two sides, with Roma twice denied by the woodwork in the second half.

Roma, with striker Mirko Vucinic still struggling to find the back of the net, wasted a hatful of chances to extend their lead and were made to sweat before clinching three points.

The outcome has allowed Roma to cut the gap on fourth-place Lazio to four points with four games to go.

Lazio, who hold the last Champions League qualifying spot, visit Inter Milan later today.

Vincenzo Montella's Roma went into the encounter looking to end a dismal spell which had seen them lose their last three home games, including their midweek 1-0 defeat to Inter in the Coppa Italia.

The hosts could not have asked for a better start. Daniele De Rossi fed Perrotta inside the area and his right-footed shot beat Chievo goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino.

Roma could have made it 2-0 soon after. Jeremy Menez's cross found Vucinic in the six-yard box but he fired just wide of the far post.

Sorrentino then denied Vucinic as he kept out the Montenegrin's 10-yard effort.

Chievo had their first opportunity in the 20th minute when Kevin Constant's bullet strike from 30 yards was kept out by Roma goalkeeper Alexander Doni.

On the half-hour mark, Nicolas Burdisso's powerful header from Roma team-mate David Pizarro's cross went over the bar as another opportunity went begging.

Roma should have made it 2-0 before half-time but after Francesco Totti's clever pass, Vucinic missed from close range.

Chievo showed more endeavour in the second half and wasted a great chance to equalise in the 53rd minute.

Substitute Fernando Uribe was left alone inside the Roma area with only Doni to beat but he struck wide.

In the 57th minute, Menez's left-footed shot from the edge of the area struck the far post and stayed out.

On the hour, Vucinic's 20-yard volley was saved by Sorrentino.

With 20 minutes remaining, the hosts could not believe their luck when Totti's cross took a deflection off a Chievo defender and found the crossbar.

Then with three minutes remaining, Roma failed to clear a corner, leaving Pizarro to make a vital clearance with Pellissier ready to pounce for an easy tap-in.