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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