Genoa 0-2 Roma: Andriy Shevchenko’s managerial debut in Serie A ends in defeat after teenage substitute Felix Afena-Gyan’s brace gives Jose Mourinho’s team three points
- Ghanian teenager scores first senior goals to secure three points for Roma
- Win is only Giallorrossi’s second in eight matches in all competitions
- Jose Mourinho’s team moved up to fifth on Serie A table following 2-0 win
- Genoa stayed 18th, two points adrift of safety and are without a win in five games
Ghanaian teenage substitute Felix Afena-Gyan’s first senior goals earned Jose Mourinho’s AS Roma a 2-0 victory at Genoa in Serie A on Sunday.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan thought he had given Roma the lead in the first half with a thunderous strike, only for the eagle-eyed referee to rule the goal out after spotting a handball from Tammy Abraham as the effort flew past the English striker.
The visitors looked like they were going to have to settle for a frustrating draw going into the latter stages of the match as Andriy Shevchenko’s Genoa frustrated their opponents in the new coach’s first game in charge.
Felix Afena-Gyan scored two late goals as Roma secured a 2-0 win away at Genoa
The Ghanian teenager said he relished the chance of playing under Jose Mourinho
However, 18-year-old Afena-Gyan had other ideas and he scored in the 82nd minute to edge his side in front, running to celebrate with a jubilant Mourinho after finding the net, before curling a stoppage-time second to seal the win.
The victory, just Roma’s second in eight matches in all competitions, moved Mourinho’s men up to fifth in the standings, while Genoa stay 18th.
Afena-Gyan was delighted with his performance.
‘Mourinho is a great person, a great manager and a great coach. He gives you the motivation to learn every day. I am very happy he is here,’ he told DAZN.
The Portuguese was full of praise for Afena-Gyan after his match-winning brace in Genoa
The 2-0 win lifted Roma up to fifth in Serie A, three points behind fourth-placed Atalanta
Andriy Shevchenko’s managerial debut in Serie A ended in disappointment for the Ukrainian
Mourinho explained why the youngster came to him to celebrate his opening goal.
‘I promised him a very expensive pair of shoes, for €800, and he came to me to make sure I didn’t forget,’ he added.
‘I really like his coldness, his physicality but above all his humility.’