Parma - Roma 0:3

[cannuman]

Amantino Mancini bagged a brace as Roma matched the club record seven straight Serie A wins by thrashing Parma 3-0 at the Tardini.

The Giallorossi were looking for their club record seventh consecutive Serie A victory and, although he was an injury doubt until the last minute, Francesco Totti was able to start upfront. Parma were without Damiano Ferronetti, Giovanni Pasquale, Filippo Savi, Marco Delvecchio and Andrea Pisanu, while Ferdinand Coly is on international duty.

Doni was fortunate that Bernardo Corradi just failed to get his toe on to a through ball with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Roma went even closer with an audacious attempt by Totti. He hooked his leg back over behind him to flick on a Cristian Chivu free kick with his heel, forcing Matteo Guardalben into a difficult fingertip save over the bar.

An Olivier Dacourt piledriver from the edge of the box was just wide, then Daniele De Rossi's glancing header was off target. Another Dacourt attempt from distance took a deflection past the post.

There was controversy on 35 minutes when Philippe Mexes seemed to karate-chop Giuseppe Cardone in the stomach in an off the ball incident, but the officials did not see it and no action was taken.

Parma had their best chance just before the break, as Domenico Morfeo threaded through for Mark Bresciano, but Doni rushed off his line to charge down the strike from four yards.

Roma broke through straight after the restart in chaotic fashion. Totti had two close-range efforts saved by Guardalben and Bresciano, but it was third time lucky for Amantino Mancini from six yards.

Cardone clattered into Totti's tender right ankle, but the Roma captain was able to carry on after treatment. Rodrigo Taddei nodded a Perrotta cross off target when he got between two defenders.

Perrotta then caught Totti's pass to the back post, but it got caught under his feet and Guardalben came tearing out to charge the shot down.

At the other end, Marco Marchionni found space down the left flank, but his angled drive was wide of the post and not close enough to Corradi.

But Roma were on fine form and Perrotta shrugged off a challenge as he ran up the field to test Guardalben with a powerful finish.

Parma were extremely unlucky not to equalise on 67 minutes, as a free kick reached an acrobatic diving Fernando Couto header, but the ball cannoned off the upright and the visitors were somehow able to clear.

Instead, the Giallorossi doubled their lead with another goal from Mancini. The Brazilian sprung the offside trap on Totti's pass and placed a perfect lob over the helpless goalkeeper.

Roma were now dominating and scored another fantastic team goal. Totti was again involved, as his hooked first-time pass over the top of the defence found Perrotta, whose lob settled into the far corner of the net.

Parma: Guardalben; Cannavaro, Cardone, Couto, Bonera; Marchionni, Grella, Simplicio, Bresciano (Ruopolo 76); Morfeo; Corradi

Roma: Doni; Panucci (Bovo 87), Mexes, Chivu, Cufrè; De Rossi, Dacourt (Tommasi 73); Taddei, Perrotta, Mancini; Totti (Rosi 85)

[Ryan27]

i watched this game. Totti was brilliant.