opening goal as Roma beat Cesena to move level on points with
Juventus at the Serie A summit.
The 23-year-old was drafted in by coach Rudi Garcia, who reste
captain Francesco Totti, and emerged as a key figure, netting
early before Cesena's resistance was ended by Daniele De Rossi
late on.
Roma's win and Juventus' injury-time defeat at Genoa means
the Giallorossi are now level on points with the defending
champions after nine rounds. They also have an identical goal
difference and goals scored tally.
Garcia's men were in desperate need of a win after a 7-1
Champions League hammering by Bayern Munich was followed
by a weekend draw at Sampdoria.
And despite the absence of Totti, Radja Nainggolan and
goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis - all left out by Garcia - the home
side started with purpose.
Vasilis Torosidis saw an early shot blocked with two subsequent
follow-up efforts also bundled clear by the Cesena defence.
It did not take long for Roma to make the breakthrough, though
with Destro capping off a sweeping move to put them ahead
after eight minutes.
Torosidis slipped the ball through for Gervinho and his low cros
was inch-perfect for the forward to tap home from three yards.
The former Siena striker could have trebled his tally by the brea
but had a goal chalked off for offside after meeting Miralem
Pjanic's free-kick with a crisp finish and then saw goalkeeper
Federico Agliardi produce a fine save to deflect his drive past th
post.
The visitors offered little as an attacking threat in the opening 45
minutes and spent much of the second period on the back foot
as well.
Their best chance came after 69 minutes when experienced
Portuguese striker Hugo Almeida found time and space in the
box but could only drag his header wide of goal.
It proved an expensive miss as Roma made sure of the win with
nine minutes to go. A deep corner was headed back across goal
by Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa and De Rossi was on hand to turn the
ball home
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