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Scorers: Montella 8 (R), Perrotta 70 (R), Totti 86 (R)
A wonderful performance from captain Francesco Totti ensured Roma get back on track by mauling Livorno.
Roma saw their hopes of capturing a Champions' League spot badly hit last week by a 2-0 defeat at Inter, while they now faced Livorno without the suspended duo of Antonio Cassano and Philippe Mexes. Amantino Mancini returned from the start to complete the trident attack with Francesco Totti and Vincenzo Montella.
Cassano was not missed, as within eight minutes Roma had broken through. Totti did all the hard work by sprinting through the heart of the Livorno defence and passing out to Montella for an angled drive.
The Giallorossi dominated early on, but Livorno defended with concentration and slowly began to emerge from their shells with an Igor Protti effort turned wide under pressure from Leandro Cufre.
Totti was booked for a challenge on Grandoni and will be suspended for next week's match with Palermo.
Ex-Lazio man Protti was celebrating his 600th match as a professional, but Livorno were ineffective upfront and rarely threatened Ivan Pelizzoli.
In the second half, Totti ran rings around the defence and his pass to Mancini was well intercepted by Grandoni. A long-range strike from the Roma captain was smothered by Marco Amelia.
Livorno's first real chance came on the hour mark when Cristiano Lucarelli rose above Matteo Ferrari to get his head on to a Dario Passoni free kick, but the finish whistled wide of the woodwork.
However, Roma doubled their lead with another impressive move. Totti, Mancini and Montella all touched the ball before Simone Perrotta drilled in from just inside the box for his second goal of the season.
Totti scored a spectacular chip on Montella's pass, but it didn't count as the linesman incorrectly judged the Italian international to be offside.
Totti got his glory in the closing stages with a magnificent solo effort. He left two defenders for dead before driving in a powerful finish.
Pelizzoli did well to save a Cristiano Lucarelli free kick, but Livorno were never really in the running.
In the final minutes, Montella somehow managed to drill wide of the near post after some more great play from Man of the Match Francesco Totti.
Roma: Pelizzoli; Panucci, Ferrari, Dellas; Cufre, Perrotta, Dacourt, De Rossi; Mancini, Totti, Montella
Livorno: Amelia; Galante, Grandoni, Melara; Doga (Giallombardo 67), Passoni, Grauso, Vidigal (Vigiani 68), Pfertzel; Protti, C Lucarelli
Ref: Gabriele
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Philippe Mexes is trying to look on the bright side after the Court of Arbitration for Sport banned him for six weeks yesterday.
The CAS turned down the Roma defender's appeal against FIFA's original suspension, handed down in August for "unilateral breach of contract" with his previous club Auxerre.
"I've been expecting this decision for a long time now," said the 22-year-old. "The page has been turned at last."
Mexes got himself into trouble by signing for Roma while still on Auxerre's books, and the France international now seems to recognise his mistake.
"This punishment exists to stop other players doing what I did," he said. "I'm actually quite relieved because Auxerre were asking for the maximum penalty – four months!
"That's why I'm still smiling. Six weeks out isn't too bad, it's better than an injury.
"What's annoying, though, is that I was only just getting back to my best, and showing everyone what I can do."
FIFA will now rule on how much compensation Roma must pay Auxerre, with the Burgundy club apparently demanding £12.4m.
They are unlikely to receive that much, but yesterday Auxerre boss Guy Roux reiterated his anger at the player he helped rise to prominence.
"He deserted this club with utter disregard for the law," he said. "It's only right that the CAS confirmed his punishment."
Mexes is due to return to action against Udinese on April 3.
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Roma must get back to winning ways in Week 25 against Livorno or miss the Champions’ League train altogether. There were signs that the Giallorossi’s troubles were coming to an end after a nightmare start to the season. But just when they were on the verge of getting back into the top-four, results have suffered a worrying dip in form.
Gigi Del Neri’s side have collected just two points from their last three games, falling to a 2-0 defeat at Inter last week. Goalkeeper Ivan Pelizzoli was recalled to the side but he may be dropped yet again after another far from impressive display. The Coach has more issues to resolve too as the dismissed Philippe Mexes is suspended along with Antonio Cassano.
That may force the tactician to play with a 4-4-2 or keep faith with a 3-4-3, by inserting Mancini in a more advanced position. Tommasi and Chivu are still sidelined with injury, even if the latter is just weeks away from a return.
Livorno’s incredible season continues after Roberto Donadoni’s men beat high-flying Sampdoria 1-0 on Sunday. Given Roma’s form and their own – three wins and a draw in their last six – they may fancy their chances of an upset at the Stadio Olimpico.
Roma (probable): Pelizzoli; Panucci, Dellas, Ferrari, Cufre; De Rossi, Dacourt, Perrotta; Mancini, Montella, Totti
Livorno (probable): Amelia; Melara, A Lucarelli, Galante; Balleri, Grauso, Passoni, Vidigal, Doga; Vigiani, C Lucarelli
Ref: To follow...
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Lausanne, 16 February 2005 – The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled today on the disciplinary matter involving the French football player Philippe Mexès, AS Roma, AJ Auxerre and FIFA. The CAS dismissed the appeals filed separately by Philippe Mexès, AS Roma and AJ Auxerre and confirmed the six-week suspension imposed on Mexès by the Dispute Resolution Chamber of FIFA.
On 31 August 2004, the FIFA authorised the transfer of Philippe Mexès from AJ Auxerre to AS Roma but imposed a six-week suspension on the player for the unilateral breach of his contract with AJ Auxerre without just cause. Philippe Mexès then filed an appeal with the CAS in order to request the annulment of such suspension and to obtain the stay of the FIFA decision so that the sanction would not enter into force during the CAS proceedings. The stay of the decision was granted by CAS. Shortly after, AJ Auxerre also filed an appeal with CAS in order to request that the suspension of the player be increased to four months, which is the maximum sanction provided by the FIFA Regulations.
The dispute has been submitted to a Panel composed of Mr Jean-Philippe Rochat, Lausanne, Switzerland (President), Mr Jean-Pierre Morand, Geneva, Switzerland and Mr François Klein, Paris, France (arbitrators). A hearing was held on 24 January 2005 in Lausanne with all parties and witnesses present.
The Panel will communicate the grounds for its decision within a few weeks. The CAS specifies that the six week suspension imposed on Philippe Mexès enters into force on 16 February 2005. For the time being, any possible dispute of a pecuniary nature between Mexès, AS Roma and AJ Auxerre has not been submitted to CAS.
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Scorer: Mihajlovic 23, 92 (I)
Two Sinisa Mihajlovic free kicks proved enough as Inter beat Roma and stake their claim on the fourth Champions' League spot.
These are the two most prolific teams in Serie A - bagging 86 goals between them going into this tie - and it was a head to head battle for Champions' League places.
Adriano had his first start since suffering a calf injury a month ago and partnered Obafemi Martins, leaving Christian Vieri on the bench. Alvaro Recoba was injured and Sinisa Mihajlovic stepped in for the suspended Marco Materazzi, but surprisingly Kily Gonzalez replaced Dejan Stankovic on the right. Antonio Cassano recovered from a minor knee injury that kept him out of international duty to form Roma's trident attack, though Olivier Dacourt was on a one-match ban.
The Giallorossi had a strong start and tested Francesco Toldo after just 90 seconds of play. Vincenzo Montella got behind Giuseppe Favalli on Antonio Cassano's pass and Toldo got down well to block his precise finish.
Leandro Cufre' then drilled just wide of the top corner from a good 30 metres away as Roma looked confident. Juan Sebastian Veron's long-range effort was held by Ivan Pelizzoli, then soon after Adriano nodded a Kily Gonzalez cross just past the near post.
The deadlock was eventually broken after 22 minutes. Sinisa Mihajlovic was a risk for this match due to a bout of flu, but he curled in one of his trademark free kicks at the near post, lifting it over the defensive wall and into the bottom corner of the net. The Serb defender - a former Roma player - has now scored 27 Serie A goals from set-pieces.
Ivan Cordoba's crucia intervention prevented Cassano's splendid solo run threading through to Montella moments later as Roma fought back.
Totti's free kick was charged down by the defensive wall, but he slammed the rebound with his left foot and Toldo flew to make a fantastic save. The Roma captain fired another free kick over the bar.
There was panic in the Inter area on the stroke of half-time. Totti sprung the offside trap on Christian Panucci's cross and intelligently cut across for Montella, who had taken the ball past Toldo, but Ivan Cordoba came sliding in for a decisive challenge that prevented the Capocannoniere tapping into an empty net from a couple of yards.
At the other end, a Kily Gonzalez cross found Martins in the centre, but the Nigerian seemed surprise and couldn't react in time for the finish, while Roma were really pushing with a Panucci free header over the bar.
At the start of the second half, Pelizzoli was uncertain on a Mihajlovic corner kick and Esteban Cambiasso's header at the back post was deflected on to the side-netting by Daniele De Rossi.
Montella was again dangerous at the other end, reaching Panucci's cross and only just failing to angle his header past Toldo. Moments later he single-handedly dribbled past both Mihajlovic and Favalli, but the omnipresent Cordoba was there to clean up.
On the hour mark, Gigi Del Neri pushed Panucci back into defence as Amantino Mancini took over midfield duties in a 4-3-3 system. Inter also made a change as former Lazio star Dejan Stankovic replaced Kily Gonzalez.
Leandro Cufre' needed a well-timed challenge to stop Martins making the most of a classic counter-attack, while Pelizzoli needed two touches to smother another powerful long-range Mihajlovic free kick.
Martins disposessed defenders in midfield and sprinted towards goal, driving his effort just past the post.
Stankovic thought he had sealed the points when he ran on to a splendid Adriano pass, but Pelizzoli got down quickly to parry at the near post.
Cassano pulled up with a muscular problem and was replaced by 17-year-old striker Cerci for the final five minutes.
The Giallorossi's hopes of getting back into the game were wrecked in stoppages when Philippe Mexes brought down Martins for his second bookable offence.
Mihajlovic got the last laugh, as from that free kick he curled in another fantastic free kick at the near post that left Pelizzoli rooted to the spot.
Inter: Toldo; J Zanetti, Cordoba, Mihajlovic, Favalli (Burdisso 83); Veron (Ze Maria 70), C Zanetti, Cambiasso, Kily Gonzalez (Stankovic 62); Martins, Adriano
Roma: Pelizzoli; Mexes, Dellas (Mancini 59), Ferrari; Panucci, De Rossi (Aquilani 71), Perrotta, Cufre; Totti, Cassano (Cerci 85), Montella
Ref: Trefoloni
Sent off: Mexes 91 (R)
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LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) - French international Philippe Mexes will learn Wednesday if he can continue playing with Italian club AS Roma, when the Court of Arbitration for Sport will rule on a FIFA-ordered suspension of the defender.
Mexes quit French first division club Auxerre in August to join Roma, and although FIFA later approved the transfer, it also ruled that Mexes was guilty of "unilateral breach of contract" for quitting Auxerre and suspended him for six weeks.
The ban was due to begin Sept. 12, the day the Italian season started. But two days earlier, CAS ruled that Mexes could play for Roma while it considered his appeal.
Auxerre later asked CAS to increase the ban to four months, which would end Mexes's season with Roma if the court rules in favor of the French club.
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Scorers: Montella 10 (R), Della Rocca 62 (B)
Ex-Roma boss Carlo Mazzone earned an important point at the Stadio Olimpico as the Giallorossi are held to their second consecutive stalemate.
Mazzone returned to the Capital hoping to extend Bologna's seven-match unbeaten run, the last three of which were victories. The injury crisis continued with Tomas Locatelli, Fabio Petruzzi , Mourad Meghni and Claudio Bellucci out of action. Roma had to reshuffle their defence due to Matteo Ferrari's ban, while teenage goalkeeper Carlo Zotti was again preferred to Ivan Pelizzoli.
Olivier Dacourt curled an early effort just over the crossbar, but the deadlock was broken by Capocannoniere Vincenzo Montella. He sprung the offside trap on Antonio Cassano's pass, left Gianluca Pagliuca stranded with a dummy and then placed his finish between Gamberini and the post for a delightful solo effort.
Bologna had a golden opportunity to draw level on 23 minutes when Della Rocca sprung the offside trap and intelligently lobbed Zotti as the 'keeper ran out to the edge of the box, but the ball bounced in front of goal and over the bar of an empty net.
Dacourt was booked and will be suspended for next week's crunch match with Inter.
Cassano was on fine form and set up another great chance for Montella, but Gamberini closed him down.
Mazzone's men were furious in first half stoppages when they saw penalty appeals for a Philippe Mexes handling offence waved away.
There was a splendid team move at the start of the second half, as Totti's backheel found Cassano and Montella just failed to get on the end of his cross as Pagliuca threw himself at the ball.
Totti rattled the frame of the goal with a stunning free kick from 30 metres away, but Roma were made to pay for these errors.
The defence was torn apart on 62 minutes as Marco Ferrante's wayward volley went past Mexes and straight into the path of young striker Luigi Della Rocca for a sliding finish from seven yards.
Cassano again set up Montella, but the top scorer's chip was off target, then Totti's acrobatic volley was over the bar.
Daniele De Rossi had two golden opportunities in stoppages, with an effort from distance and a close-range shot that was straight at Pagliuca.
Montella hit the back of the net with the last kick of the game by nodding in a free kick, but the goal was disallowed for a De Rossi push in the area. Cassano had to be held back from insulting the referee as he left the field surrounded by Roma players.
Roma: Zotti; Dellas, Mexes, Scurto, Panucci (Mancini 68); De Rossi, Dacourt (Aquilani 76), Cufre (Perrotta 73); Montella, Totti, Cassano
Bologna: Pagliuca; Daino, Juarez, Nastase, Gamberini; Sussi, Zagorakis, Giunti (Loviso 77), Colucci; Della Rocca (Binotto 83), Ferrante (Capuano 72)
Ref: Dattilo
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Scorer: Giacomazzi og 49 (R), Vucinic 79 (L)
Mirko Vucinic grabbed a late equaliser as ten-man Lecce hold Roma in a fiery encounter at the Stadio Via del Mare.
Zdenek Zeman entertained his former club as Lecce aimed to start life again without top scorer Valeri Bojinov and Babu, as the Brazilian is out for the rest of the season with knee ligament damage. Gigi Del Neri's Roma are on a roll at the moment and he introduced an all-attack 4-2-4 system with Amantino Mancini supporting the 'Trio delle Meraviglie' of Totti-Montella-Cassano, but Ivan Pelizzoli was again dropped.
The first real chance came after 13 minutes when Antonio Cassano skipped past his marker and fired wide of the near post.
Vincenzo Sicignano flew to palm out a rocket of a Francesco Totti free kick from the edge of the box, then Christian Panucci's header skimmed the woodwork.
Mirko Vucinic set up a fine chance for Alex Pinardi, only for the former Atalanta man to waste it horribly.
Vucinic went for glory himself and his shot was closed down by Zotti, then Marco Cassetti fired over the open goal.
Roma could not have gone closer to a goal than in first half stoppages. Vincenzo Montella found himself one on one with the goalkeeper thanks to Cassano's pass and Sicignano stuck up a hand to slow the ball down just enough for Rullo to make a goalline clearance.
The Giallorossi took the lead in fortunate circumstances just four minutes into the second half. A Totti corner kick seemed to be going nowhere until Guillermo Giacomazzi accidentally nodded it into his own net at the near post.
Lecce fought back and Zotti flew to fingertip Cristian Ledesma's free kick round the post, then the young goalkeeper was tested by Vucinic as he ran on to a Valdes through ball and a long-range shot from the Croat.
There was controversy when a free kick was awarded against Lecce despite replays suggesting the foul was from Cassano. The tension was high and moments later Ledesma saw red for shoving Totti to the ground in an off the ball incident.
However, even in ten men Lecce managed to equalise in the closing stages. Vucinic exchanged passes with Angelo to cut the Roma defence into slices and slid his finish past an immobile Zotti.
Lecce: Sicignano; Cassetti, Diamoutene, Stovini, Rullo; Giacomazzi, Ledesma, Dalla Bona; Konan (Angelo 65), Vucinic (Abruzzese 84), Pinardi (Valdes 46)
Roma: Zotti; Ferrari, Dellas, Mexes, Panucci; De Rossi, Dacourt (Aquilani 56); Mancini (Perrotta 84), Totti, Cassano; Montella
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