Roma-Reggina

[Rosa]

Another likely banana skin for Roma. However our squad will be stronger then last weekend's 'baby' team. For the first time Mexes and Chivu can play together and I hope they're good as I've put a lot of hope into them being so and If i was in charge of Roma they'd be my basis for next seasons team. The usual 3 will be upfront and with Montella scoring again, Cassano having a decent game and Totti being Totti maybe they'll be able to have a convincing game. Midfeild still isn't great, but again stronger then last weekends. Curci should remain in goal

I really hope we win this one.

And my faith in youth has returned a bit.

[Morrison]

::sick::

[Rosa]

damn bananas

Yet again we3 were winning at half time, yet again our defence screwed up, yet again this team disappointed.

[Rosa]

Match Report from C4 which I have added to:

Reggina shocked the Stadio Olimpico and fought back from a goal down to earn a victory that surely ends Roma's Champions' League ambitions. (what ambitions?)

The Giallorossi were 10 points adrift of the Champions' League places going into this game and welcomed back Francesco Totti, Christian Panucci, Daniele De Rossi and Philippe Mexes, though Leandro Cufre sat out the first of a two-match ban. Reggina had lost six of their last seven games, but had beaten Roma earlier this season. (who hasn't beaten us?)

The first real save was on De Rossi's powerful but central strike after seven minutes of play, then Amantino Mancini's angled drive was only parried and he hit the follow-up into the side-netting. (that's one waste chance so far)

Reggina were certainly not going to be happy playing for a stalemate and moments later Gaetano De Rosa's accurate header brought a great save out of Gianluca Curci for a corner kick.

The young goalkeeper was again called into action and flew to tip Giuseppe Colucci's rising shot over the bar, while Giandomenico Mesto fired off target as Reggina pushed forward in these early stages. (Curci is great)

When Roma did manage to attack, they certainly did it with style. On 23 minutes Cassano and Totti duetted divinely with half a dozen passes and only a desperate defensive intervention prevented the captain from walking the ball into the net. (When Totti and Cassano play it's not calcio it's ART)

The resulting corner kick proved decisive anyway, as it came out to Cristian Chivu's left foot for an absolute screamer from 26 metres that rocketed into the top corner before Salvatore Soviero knew what had happened. The Romanian defender had also scored a stunning goal in last week's 3-3 draw at Udinese. (Rosa loves Chivu very much)

Totti then set Vincenzo Montella running with an incredible backheeled cross that looped back over his head, but the hitman's chip was off target. (That's another chance)

Daniele De Rossi wanted to keep up with his teammates and tried to flick Mancini's cross in with his heel, but this time Soviero was alert. (At least you managed to stay on the pitch this time Dan)

The goal had clearly woken Roma up and there was another sumptuous team move between Cassano, Totti and Mancini, but soon after Matteo Ferrari had to charge down Mozart's piledriver. (ART I tell you ART)

Reggina again had a strong start to the half and Curci was impressive with a one-handed save to tip Giacomo Tedesco's swerving strike out for a corner. (it's downhill from here)

De Rosa's looping header from a deflected cross swung on to the roof of the net as the Amaranto pushed hard for an equaliser against an increasingly nervous Roma side. They moved to the 3-5-2 system when forward Marco Borriello replaced winger Giandomenico Mesto.

On the hour mark there was a golden opportunity for Reggina to draw level, but Montella was on the line for a decisive clearance on Tedesco's header. (and he's so short as well)

Totti tried to break the siege with a fierce strike from 20 metres that was just over the crossbar and moments later Soviero timed his intervention perfectly to push Mancini's low cross off Montella's foot after the move had been started by the captain. (yes that was another chance)

Cassano wasted the chance to double Roma's lead on 67 minutes when he had space to shoot, but opted to pass it back to Montella instead and it went begging. (Antonio you fool)

Tedesco took advantage of a very complacent Mexes pass and found himself in a promising position only to blast it over the bar.

Another defensive error cost Roma dearly on 71 minutes, as Reggina found their equaliser at the end of a chaotic move. Curci performed two stunning saves to keep out Borriello, but the ball squirmed into the path of Ivan Franceschini for a tap-in. (And how many would Roma be up now if those chances hadn't been wasted?)

Roma's fitness levels had simply collapsed in the second half and they looked sluggish, though Totti curled a free kick wide of the target and a well-timed De Rosa intervention stopped Cassano from scoring. (De Rosa can almost be forgiven for having a cool name, but argh!)

The following corner kick was chaos in the area, as Mancini's scissor-kick was redirected by Montella's head, then Panucci struck the post from close range and the Serie A top scorer again ballooned over the bar from less than six yards. (This match is deffinately not going Roma's way)

Panucci suffered an injury during that move and had to be replaced by youth team player Valerio Virga for the final 10 minutes. (Just what we need, an injury. And Virga is only 17)

However, the Giallorossi were visibly weakening as time went on and Reggina took the lead moments later. Emiliano Bonazzoli spun round Ferrari and placed his angled drive into the far corner to stun the Stadio Olimpico.(inervtible)

Chivu, who had opened the scoring, went for a second though Soviero was able to punch away his curling free kick. Montella ran on to a Cassano through ball and was muscled off it by Jacopo Balestri, while at the other end Curci sprinted outside his box to clear from Esteves. (more opportunities wasted)

Deep into stoppages Totti's free kick was slightly deflected to shave the woodwork, but Reggina picked up all three points and left Roma to be booed off the pitch. (they're probably used to that by know)