Grande Roma take down Viola

[Muscolino18]

Vincenzo Montella completed Roma's comeback to conquer Fiorentina's Stadio Artemio Franchi 2-1.

Both these teams were having problems going into this tie at the Stadio Franchi. Fiorentina had picked up just one point from their last three games and Christian Rigano' was on the bench after fracturing a finger, so Enrico Fantini supported Fabrizio Miccoli.

The Giallorossi made the trip without Christian Panucci, Simone Perrotta, Amantino Mancini - who was on compassionate leave - Marco Delvecchio and Vincent Candela. Under-21 international Alberto Aquilani stepped in to a wide position he is not particularly happy with, while Vincenzo Montella was fresh from scoring four goals in his last two games.

There was some panicked defending in the Viola area after just 30 seconds when Francesco Totti found Montella, while at the other end Miccoli's free kick was curled over the bar.

Enzo Maresca's attempt was pushed round the post for a corner kick, then ex-Roma goalkeeper Cristiano Lupatelli had to be aware for a close-range save on Antonio Cassano's effort at the near post. There was controversy on 14 minutes when Cassano saw a goal disallowed for an incorrect offside decision.

Moments later Fiorentina had a similar problem, as Ivan Pelizzoli only parried Enrico Fantini's long-range strike into the path of Miccoli, but this was also wrongly ruled out for offside. Miccoli was booked for dissent and will be suspended for next week's game at Cagliari.

The deadlock was eventually broken after 20 minutes, though Pelizzoli was certainly at fault. Enzo Maresca unleashed a rocket from 25 metres and the 'keeper only scuffed it as the ball bounced just in front of him.

It was not a good day for goalkeepers, as three minutes later Roma drew level. Fiorentina claimed they should have had a free kick for Olivier Dacourt's challenge on Maresca, but Cassano ran on to Totti's pass and placed an angled drive under Lupatelli's body.

The Giallorossi then saw two shots charged down from Traianos Dellas and Dacourt, while Aquilani almost scored an own goal when he deflected a free kick past his post.

Cassano ran down the left flank after combining passes with Totti and chipped in a cross for Montella's head, but the Fiorentina defence just about managed to clear with Lupatelli stranded.

Roma nearly scored a spectacular goal on 56 minutes when Totti saw Lupatelli off his line and thumped it from the halfway line, but the 'keeper just about managed to scramble back for an acrobatic save.

Vincenzo Montella had been extremely quiet up until the 67th, but he surprised the Viola defence and Lupatelli to give Roma the lead. He gathered a throw-in, spun round his marker and nutmegged the goalkeeper at the near post for his 17th of the season.

Nakata was disappointing again and made way for centre-forward Christian Rigano', but Roma threatened again with a save on Cassano.

Miccoli was fortunate not to be shown a second yellow card when he dived in the hope of winning a penalty, then Pelizzoli scrambled a Maresca piledriver clear.

Fiorentina nearly snatched an equaliser on 79 minutes, as Miccoli's low free kick shaved the near post by a matter of centimetres.

It remained a very open game and Cassano met Totti's pass only to see it pushed out for a corner kick. Despite six minutes of stoppages, Fiorentina were unable to muster enough pressure to get an equaliser.

This game ruled! Apart from goalkeeping errors galore, the talent on display was IMPECCABLE.
Miccoli's goal should've counted and he ran his socks off for the full 97, Maresca in fact netted shortly after but he too begged the question why he isn't partnering Emerson presently.. (although his rough treatment of Totti should've seen a dismissal late on IMO)
Montella's genius finish, the return of a glorious Antonio Cassano and a sharp looking Totti seem to be leading the way for a great run of results..hope so too, this team deserves better.. (if only that halfway line screamer would've beaten a 'camera-happy' Lupatelli too!)
Rosa, I can imagine you're ecstatic about your team's performance tonight..they really impressed me. ::

[acmaniac]

Im sure she's not the only one thats happy, im happy cause a win like this makes Totti happy and if he's happy it means he don't bitch about losing as much and threatening to leave.

[Jager]

This game was class and very entertaining. I was really impressed with Roma's trident of Cassano, Totti and Montella.

That Totti chip from midfield was wonderfull, I wish it would of went in.

I agree with Miccoli, he is an awesome little player.::nw::

Are Zola and Miccoli comparable?

[Rosa]

I have that amazing great game feeling which i've missed.
Everyone was great (except Peli) and it was a fun game. Although i was getting a bit annoyed with all that timewasting

[Muscolino18]

Really? I enjoy watching time-wasting at times, it's pretty funny when you're a neutral or in favour of the 'wasting'..

[Rosa]

It was quite funny the way it was in that corner, I just felt the way it was going we could have scored. That said if we were attacking and they countered successfully i wouldn't have been happy.

[Muscolino18]

[Rosa]

sadly Totti and Montella were unable to finish the game after Cassano killed them.

Gotta love the trident::loveeee:

[Rosa]

Being the cool bitch I am i watched the game again on sky plus. Oh it was all good. Especially knowing we won, less nerve wracking.
Totti and Cassano ::nw:: ::nw::

[Muscolino18]

You cool bitch.

[CantonaStillGod]

Offtopic but poor old Nakata...

[Rosa]

he got whistled a lot when he came off. A poor game though gave the ball away a lot.