Rampant Roma Hit Four Past Dazed Torino
A brilliant second half display by Roma saw them overturn a 3-1 first leg Coppa Italia defeat to Torino with a 4-0 triumph.
Roma coach Luciano Spalletti decided to rest captain Francesco Totti initially for this match, Mirko Vucinic featuring in his place, but eventually his entrance in the second half turned out to be decisive.
The rain was pouring down at the Stadio Olimpico as the home side made a strong start to the game. In the 10th minute an elaborate move saw Cicinho get in a good position to score, but he missed.
The home side first made themselves dangerous around the 20th minute, when Alvaro Recoba, who scored a brace in the first leg, fired a diagonal shot wide of the goal.
In the 28th minute, the Giallorossi had a big chance as Amantino Mancini latched onto a long pass and served the ball to the onrushing Vucinic, but he fell inside the area after possible contact with defender Cesare Natali.
Soon later, the Serbian midfielder came close again as he connected with a Cicinho cross from close range, sending his header just over the bar.
The Brazilian full back then made a crucial clearence in front of an empty net on a goal-bound shot by David Di Michele.
It didn't look like it was going to be an easy night for the Giallorossi as they tried to qualify for the Coppa Italia quarter-finals. This match against Torino had to be won at least 2-0 after the 3-1 defeat in the first leg, and at the end of the first half the match was still goalless.
In the second half, Spalletti brought on Ludovic Giuly and Totti, which turned out to be a masterstroke.
The Frenchman gave the assist to Amantino Mancini for the first goal in the 59th minute, and also found Totti two minutes later after a confused move inside the area, the captain scoring his team's second goal of the night. At this point Roma were through on away goals.
Roma came close again in the 69th minute, when Cicinho sent in another sharp cross aimed at Simone Perrotta, who failed to connect properly with the ball and lost control of it in a good position.
In the 72nd minute, Roma were given a penalty as Mexes was fouled inside the area after receiving the ball from Totti. The captain stepped up to take the penalty as usual, and coolly placed it past Matteo Sereni, scoring the 200th goal of his career.
The icing on the cake came a minute before the end, as Giuly, who had been out of the limelight since his sending off in the match against Inter, completed the rout with an easy tap-in with the goal gaping.
Roma will now face Sampdoria, who beat Cagliari 4-0 at home earlier today, in the quarter finals.
Goals: Mancini 59', Totti 61', 73' (pen.), Giuly 89'
Roma (4-2-3-1): Doni; Cicinho, Juan, Mexes, Tonetto (82’ Cassetti); Pizzarro, De Rossi; Taddei, (46’ Giuly), Perrotta, Mancini; Vucinic (59’ Totti). Available: Julio Sergio, Panucci, Aquilani, Brighi. Coach: Luciano Spalletti
Torino (4-4-2) : Sereni; Comotto (74’ Dellafiore), Di Loreto, Natali, Lanna; Lazetic (63’ Bjelanovic), Grella, Corini, Barone; Recoba, Di Michele (76’ Oguro). Available: Fontana, Motta, Bottone, Benedetti. Coach: Walter Alfredo Novellino
Bookings: 22’ Grella (T), 28’ Mexes (R), 45’ Corini (T), 80’ Natali (T).(goal.com)
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本帖最后由 bony 于 2008-1-17 18:45 编辑 ]
