Izzo own goal saves Dzeko blushes for Roma

Milan - Edin Dzeko hit a series of blanks as Roma kept the pressure on leader Juventus with a cagey 1-0 win at Genoa courtesy of Armando Izzo's disastrous first-half own goal on Sunday.

Roma's 13th win of the campaign closed the gap on Juventus to one point before the champion, which also has another game in hand due to end-of-year Supercoppa Italiana commitments, hosts Bologna in Sunday's late game.

Napoli, a 2-1 winner over Sampdoria on Saturday when Lorenzo Tonelli hit a last-gasp winner on his debut for the southerner, is third.

Lazio remains in fourth, only a point behind Napoli, after Ciro Immobile made up for Lucas Biglia's penalty miss at the Stadio Olimpico by striking in the final minute to secure a 1-0 win over dogged Crotone.

Dzeko is only one goal behind Serie A goals leader Mauro Icardi, who has hit the net 14 times for Inter in the league so far this campaign.

But the towering Bosnian was kept on a tight leash by a Genoa side that barely six weeks ago inflicted a chastening 3-1 defeat on Juventus in what was arguably the champion's worst performance in years.

When Dzeko did find clear chances, he was wasteful.

The host started brightly and Roma goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny had to dive to palm a curling shot by Diego Laxalt around his far post in the opening minutes.

At the other end, a Dzeko snapshot forced Mattia Perin into action, and as he dived to stop the follow-up from Bruno Peres, the Italian goalkeeper suffered an injury that prompted his replacement by Eugenio Lamanna.

Roma was sorely missing Egyptian winger Mohamed Salah, who is on Africa Cup of Nations duty, but was gifted the lead in the 36th minute thanks to a double defensive blunder by Izzo.

The Italian first headed a poor clearance straight at Peres, then stuck out his shin to direct the Brazilian's angled cross past Lamanna at the keeper's near post.

Genoa regrouped and a free kick from the left flank had Szczesny in a flap as Roma came under pressure during a brief Genoa assault before the interval.

The host threatened a late equaliser in the final stages, but not before Dzeko disappointed again.

He volleyed a cross from Radja Nainggolan on to the upright, hit the side-netting from Diego Perotti's assist and then blasted over from Kevin Strootman's delivery.

Genoa dug deep and Szczesny did well to parry Luca Rigoni's effort from point-blank range before securing the points when he flew to fingertip a Lucas Ocampos strike out from under the bar.