Totti brace earns Roma derby spoils

Published January 12, 2015
ROME: AS Roma’s Francesco Totti (L) shoots to score against Lazio during their Serie A match at the Olympic Stadium on Sunday.—Reuters
ROME: AS Roma’s Francesco Totti (L) shoots to score against Lazio during their Serie A match at the Olympic Stadium on Sunday.—Reuters

ROME: Francesco Totti scored twice to haul AS Roma back from two goals behind against arch-rivals Lazio and give them a 2-2 draw in their city derby on Sunday which moved them provisionally level on points with Serie A leaders Juventus.

Lazio stunned Rudi Garcia’s side when they took a 2-0 half-time lead. Stefano Mauri volleyed them in front in the 25th minute and Felipe Anderson, who set up the first goal, increased their lead four minutes later with a low shot from outside the area.

But Roma’s talismanic captain Totti, 38 and in his 23rd season at Roma, lost his marker and turned in Kevin Strootman’s cross three minutes after the break, then brilliantly hooked home a Jose Holebas cross and celebrated by jumping the advertising hoardings and taking a selfie.

Roma moved level on 40 points with Juve, who were at Napoli in the evening game. Third-placed Lazio, with 31 points, remained a point ahead of Napoli and Sampdoria who beating Empoli 1-0.

Genoa slipped up in the race for third as they lost 3-1 at Inter Milan on Sunday afternoon while Calgiari gave Gianfranco Zola his first Serie A win as coach when they beat Cesena 2-1 and Fiorentina overcame Palermo 4-3.

On Saturday, ten-man AC Milan held on for a share of the spoils in an entertaining 1-1 draw away to Torino.

Kamil Glik atoned for giving away an early penalty by equalising for Torino with nine minutes remaining. Milan, who are winless in their last three outings, are eighth on 26 points.

Also on Saturday, Sassuolo drew 1-1 at home to Udinese.

Published in Dawn, January 12th, 2015

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