De Rossi strike helps Roma into semis
January 27, 2010
Roma entered the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia on Tuesday night. A goal from Daniele De Rossi was enough to knock Catania out of the Cup: 1-0. The Sicillians ended the match with nine men after Giuseppe Bellusci and Blazej Augustyn saw red.
Roma, who faced Catania with a weakened attack due to the absence of the injured Luca Toni, Mirko Vucinic and Francesco Totti, dominated the match from start to finish.
Just before half-time it looked like De Rossi broke the deadlock. The Italian midfielder side-stepped his way past two defenders, his shot beat Catania goalkeeper Andrea Campagnolo, but it shaved the upright as the rampant Lupi continued to press forward.
Campagnolo continued to be the hero after the break as he denied De Rossi’s low-driven free kick with his feet. He then pulled off a majestic double save from Simone Perrotta and Stefano Okaka to keep hopes alive.
Roma finally took the lead after Augustyn’s red card. De Rossi’s measured strike in the bottom corner left Campagnolo without a chance.
The Giallorossi are set to face Milan or Udinese in the semi-final.
Tags: Andrea Campagnolo, attack, Blazej Augustyn, bottom corner, campagnolo, catania, coppa italia, daniele de rossi, deadlock, francesco totti, free kick, giallorossi, giuseppe, Giuseppe Bellusci, Goalkeeper, luca toni, lupi, midfielder, Milan, Mirko Vucinic, okaka, perrotta, Roma, semi finals, Simone Perrotta, Stefano Okaka, Toni, tuesday night, udineseRelated posts
Riise late show sinks Juve, leaves Ferrara on brink
January 24, 2010
Norway left-back John Arne Riise popped up in injury time to head home the winner as AS Roma condemned 10-man Juventus to an eighth defeat in 11 matches with a 2-1 success in Turin on Saturday.
The defeat will surely leave Juve coach Ciro Ferrara on the brink as his mis-firing team slumped to a sixth defeat in eight Serie A clashes, and to make matters worse Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon was dismissed.
The win moved in-form Roma to within two points of second-placed AC Milan, who play Inter Milan on Sunday.
They now have eight wins and three draws in their last 11 league matches but club captain Francesco Totti doesn’t want to get carried away.
“We’re going through a great period in terms of results, we stood up to Juve,” he said.
“Where do we want to get to? Right now we’re not thinking about anyone else than ourselves.”
Roma coach Claudio Ranieri, who was fired by Juve two games before the end of last season, earned his first win as a coach away to Juve but denied there was any extra satisfaction.
“The city (Rome) is starting to believe in this team, we’re having fun and we’re playing well,” he said.
“I feel nothing personal, I’m part of Roma and I’m happy because we’re in top four.
“It’s an important win because Juve want to stay in race for a Champions League finish and a win today puts them further behind us.”
Ferrara sprung a surprise in his line-up, leaving out former World Player of the Year Fabio Cannavaro in favour of Nicola Legrottaglie, possibly in order to combat the aerial threat posed by Roma forward Luca Toni.
But both coaches’ plans were thrown out the window a couple of minutes in as Toni pulled up with a calf injury and was replaced by Totti, making his comeback from injury.
The switch seemed to suck any attacking threat out of Roma and Juve dominated the first 45 minutes.
Bosnia veteran Hasan Salihamidzic fired well over from distance on nine minutes before Brazilian forward Amauri rose highest in a crowded box to meet Zdenek Grygera’s right wing cross, heading wide under pressure from Nicolas Burdisso.
Juve’s best chances were coming from the flanks and Amauri won another header on 31 minutes, this time from Fabio Grosso’s left wing cross but again he directed it wide.
Next it was a devilish free-kick from Diego that caused a problem in the Roma defence but Alessandro Del Piero couldn’t get enough contact to direct his header on target.
Juve needed a stroke of luck or a moment of genius to break the deadlock and they got both six minutes after the restart.
Diego’s low ball into the box spun up off Juan’s foot, Del Piero was perfectly placed for the dropping ball and his left foot volley from a tight angle low into the far corner was pure vintage.
But if Juve had needed something special to find the net, Roma needed a helping hand, and they got it courtesy of Grosso and the referee.
Rodrigo Taddei ran onto a through-ball into the box and tried to turn inside Grosso but the full-back left out an arm and although contact was minimal, Taddei flopped to the ground and the referee pointed to the spot with Totti slotting home the penalty.
Juve resorted to the tactic that served them well in the first period and substitute Antonio Candreva lofted a high ball into the box but Amauri’s header was straight at goalkeeper Julio Sergio.
The hosts were almost made to pay as Taddei released the breaking Riise with Juve caught upfield but Buffon sacrificed himself, charging out of his area and bringing down the marauding Norwegian full-back to prevent him going through on goal.
Buffon barely even waited for the red card before walking off the field.
But then Riise it was who charged forward deep into injury time to meet a David Pizarro cross at the back post and heap misery on Juve.
Earlier, Catania cruised to a crucial 3-0 victory at home to Parma to improve their chances of beating the drop, leaving them 18th but just one point from safety.
ROME (AFP)
Tags: ac milan, amauri, calf injury, Claudio Ranieri, club captain, coach claudio, couple of minutes, fabio cannavaro, Ferrara, francesco totti, gianluigi buffon, injury time, inter milan, john arne riise, juventus, legrottaglie, world player of the year, Zdenek GrygeraRelated posts
Injured Totti out of Juve clash
January 12, 2010
The Roma fans will have to be patient. They are desperate to see Francesco Totti link up with new striker Luca Toni in the Giallorossi’s attack but they will have to wait until after the match against Juventus, on January 23. Totti still suffers from an injury that will probably keep him sidelined for the rest of this month.
Roma coach Claudio Ranieri is excited by the potential of his new-look attack of Toni and Totti but he won’t be able to test the duo because of Totti’s injury. The club icon is set to miss the matches against Triestina (Coppa Italia), Genoa and the top match against Juventus, which is scheduled for next week.
“I don’t feel well at all. But I will be back after the Juve game,” promised Totti, who has played twelve league matches so far this season.
Roma are fifth in the table, one point behind struggling Juventus. Ciro Ferrara’s side were stunned by Milan, last weekend while Roma defeated Chievo.
Tags: ciro ferrara, Claudio Ranieri, club icon, coach claudio, coppa italia, francesco totti, game, genoa, giallorossi, juventus, luca toni, match, Milan, Roma, roma fans, striker, Toni, tottiRelated posts
Totti keen on World Cup spot
January 2, 2010
Italian veteran Francesco Totti has declared himself ready to play for his country in the World Cup if coach Marcello Lippi asks him to do so.
“If Lippi comes calling and if I am in good form and the squad needs me, I will go and I think that will please the younger ones,” the Roma striker told the Repubblica newspaper.
Totti played under Lippi in Italy’s 2006 World Cup triumph and he said that he had great respect for the coach.
The 33-year-old, who has played with Roma since 1993, resisting all big money attempts to lure him away, said that he felt he could play for a further five years during which he wanted to win another Italian league title with the club.
ROME (AFP)
Tags: coach marcello lippi, francesco totti, italian league, Italy, marcello lippi, money, Roma, ROME, veteran, world cup spot, world cup triumph, younger onesRelated posts
Totti to retire at Roma
December 17, 2009
Francesco Totti agreed a deal on Wednesday to remain at Roma through 2014. In addition, the Roma captain ensured himself a place on the club’s staff following his retirement.
Totti, 33, was set to see his current deal at Stadio Olimpico expire at the end of this season, but the new contract keeps the veteran Italian forward on board for four further seasons through June 2014.
In addition, the contract has also assured Totti a spot on the club’s coaching staff when the deal expires, at which time Totti would be expected to announce his retirement from the game. Totti would be three months shy of his 38th birthday when the deal reaches its end.
Totti has played his entire professional career at Roma, beginning in 1992 (and making his senior debut against Brescia in March 1993) and has scored nearly 200 Serie A goals for the Giallorossi, guiding the club to the Scudetto in 2001.
Tags: birthday, brescia, debut, francesco totti, game, giallorossi, new contract, Olimpico, professional career, retirement, Roma, scudetto, stadio, three monthsRelated posts
Italy handed easy draw
December 5, 2009
Italy enjoyed a nice draw as they were placed in a group with Paraguay, Slovakia and New Zealand.
The World Champions will start the defence of their title against Paraguay on June 14 in Cape Town. The South Americans have only played Italy once, back in 1998. La Squadra Azurra won that match 3-1 thanks to a goal from Paolo Maldini and a bullet from Francesco Moriero.
Italy boss Marcello Lippi can refer to this June’s friendly match against New Zealand (4-3 win) to prevent his men from underestimating the All Whites. Italy locks horns with New Zealand on June 20 in Nelspruit.
Perhaps the most intriguing game in Group F will take place in Johannesburg on June 24 when Italy face Slovakia who will be driven by Napoli midfielder Marek Hamsik. Bout countries meet each other for the second time in history, their first match took place in 1998 when the Azzurri won 3-0 in Catania thanks to goals from Alessandro Del Piero and Francesco Totti.
Tags: Alessandro Del Piero, cape town, catania, Francesco Moriero, francesco totti, friendly match, horns, intriguing game, Italy, johannesburg, june 14, june 24, la squadra, maldini, marcello lippi, marek hamsik, midfielder, napoli, nelspruit, New Zealand, paolo maldini, paraguay, second time, slovakia, South Americans, squadra azurra, time in history, world championsRelated posts
Lippi refuses to buckle under Cassano pressure
November 27, 2009
Italy coach Marcello Lippi on Thursday offered Sampdoria forward Antonio Cassano no encouragement over a possible call-up, explaining that his omission is a matter of personal choice.
Despite a sustained campaign in the press and public pressure to pick the bad-boy of Italian football, Lippi has remained steadfast in his refusal to call up the former Real Madrid and AS Roma forward.
Italy have no other attacking player in their squad who can do what Cassano does, but Lippi won’t be budged.
“Many people say I’m stubborn and arrogant but my true default is coherence. Fans and journalists are like political parties,” he told Friday’s edition of L’Espresso magazine.
“Each one has his candidate for the national team. But I follow my own convictions and ideas.
“And when I don’t give explanations it’s because I know it will only fuel other polemics.
“And, with my ideas, if I have to, I’ll go against the flow. I’m truly sorry for him because he’s a good kid. But this is getting out of hand.”
Lippi constantly has to answer questions about Cassano and also recently Roma’s Francesco Totti, who has admitted he would like to return to the Italy fold despite having announced his international retirement after the World Cup victory in 2006.
ROME (AFP)
Tags: Antonio, bad boy, coherence, convictions, encouragement, explanations, francesco totti, good kid, international retirement, italian football, Italy, italy coach, MADRID, personal choice, polemics, political parties, real madrid, Roma, ROME, s francescoRelated posts
Totti set for another knee op
October 27, 2009
AS Roma captain Francesco Totti is to have surgery on his right knee, which was already operated on only 18 months ago, according to Italian media reports.
The 33-year-old previously suffered a ruptured cruciate ligament in his right knee a year and a half ago but following training on Monday he went to see the club doctor when it was decided that he would need surgery.
No details were given about when that would happen nor how long he would be on the sidelines.
Totti has been in good goalscoring form for Roma this season but has been injured for their last two matches, both of which they lost.
ROME (AFP)
Tags: captain Francesco Totti, cruciate, doctor, francesco totti, italian media, Monday, Roma, ROME, ruptured cruciate ligament, sidelines, trainingRelated posts
Ronaldinho rescues point for Milan as Juventus crash
October 5, 2009
Substitute Ronaldinho popped up seven minutes from time to salvage a point for AC Milan in a 1-1 draw at 10-man Atalanta on Sunday but that might not be enough to save coach Leonardo from the chop.
Meanwhile, the last unbeaten record in Serie A disappeared as Juventus were beaten 2-0 at Palermo to drop to third in the table.
Milan may have come from behind to earn a draw but their hosts played almost an hour with 10 men and it took the seven-time European champions 45 minutes to break down their lowly opponents with a numerical advantage.
It was also only Milan’s fourth goal in seven league matches in which the struggling giants have managed just two wins.
In Europe and at home they have failed to win in their last four matches, a bleak statistic which has piled the pressure onto Leonardo.
But centre-back Alessandro Nesta insisted the Brazilian boss should not be blamed for the club’s woes.
“These are two points dropped. We put our heart into this match but if it seemed as if we weren’t trying it’s because we’re not working well. We’re not managing to cover all areas of the pitch,” he said.
“It’s a difficult moment but we’re right behind Leonardo. You win and you lose all together. It’s not one single person’s failure.”
Atalanta deservedly took the lead on 21 minutes as Simone Padoin’s cross from the right caused confusion in the Milan backline.
Centre-backs Nesta and Giuseppe Favalli were both drawn to Cristiano Doni at the neat post, leaving Simone Tiribocchi free behind them as Ignazio Abate had failed to cover from right-back.
When Doni missed the ball it fell to Tiribocchi, who had time to pick his spot and beat Marco Storari in the Milan goal.
Serbian midfielder Ivan Radovanovic then made the hosts’ hopes of holding out for victory look decidedly tougher as he was sent off six minutes before the break for a needless second booking, pulling Pato’s shirt when the forward was practically on the halfway line.
Milan were expected to come out firing after the break as Leonardo replaced French midfielder Mathieu Flamini with Ronaldinho.
The former European champions did fashion an early chance as Thomas Manfredini over-committed himself in trying to reach an Andrea Pirlo cross leaving Pato free to shoot from 10 yards but Consigli came to the rescue, making a point blank stop.
Atalanta then survived a double scare 17 minutes from time.
Following a slick Milan passing move, Consigli saved well from Ronaldinho before Pato’s volleyed follow-up bounced into the ground and over the goalkeeper, only to come back off the bar.
Milan played much of the second half just in front of Atalanta’s penalty box and the 10 men finally cracked on 83 minutes when Nesta lifted the ball over the backline and Ronaldinho volleyed home in one brilliant movement.
Juve could have gone top if they had won in Sicily but that never looked likely in a game in which they were clearly second-best.
First half goals from Brazilians Edison Cavani and Simplicio within five minutes of each other gave Palermo a deserved 2-0 lead at the break after dominating the first half.
Juve’s Brazilian playmaker Diego came closest for the visitors, hitting the woodwork with a free-kick.
Sampdoria failed to take back top spot from Inter Milan, who beat Udinese 2-1 on Saturday, as they were held to a 1-1 home draw by Parma.
Francesco Totti scored a brace in AS Roma’s 2-1 victory over Napoli that saw him move level with former Argentina, Roma and Fiorentina striker Gabriel Batistuta in eighth place on the all-time top Serie A goalscorers list.
ROME (AFP)
Tags: ac milan, Alessandro Nesta, andrea pirlo, Argentina, atalanta, backline, chop, Diego, doni, Edison, Europe, francesco totti, Gabriel Batistuta, Giuseppe Favalli, Ignazio Abate, ivan radovanovic, leonardo, Marco Storari, Mathieu Flamini, Milan, napoli, nesta, numerical advantage, Palermo, Roma, ROME, salvage, Simone Padoin, Simone Tiribocchi, six minutes, statistic, storari, Thomas Manfredini, unbeaten record, woesRelated posts
Ranieri expects Roma present from birthday-boy Totti
September 26, 2009
Francesco Totti will celebrate his 33rd birthday when AS Roma tackle Catania in Sicily on Sunday but his coach Claudio Ranieri is expecting him to be giving out the gifts.
Club captain Totti is a legend at Roma having played his whole career there and during the close season he signed a new five year deal that will take him past his 37th birthday.
To celebrate his 33rd, Ranieri is hoping for a goal from his star player and refuted suggestions he might need a rest.
“I’m expecting a present from him, for him and for me. And also for Roma he’s hoping to score,” said the former Chelsea and Juventus boss.
“I’m happy that he’s not tired, he’s reacting well and if we do see him tiring then we’ll think about it.
“The players who are in form are playing, it’s not a case that if you rest him you’ll maintain his form. But if ever we do have to give him a break, I hope the others will be ready.”
It is not goals that have been the problem with Roma this season but rather their defence.
They have conceded more goals than any other team including three in the midweek draw at Palermo.
“The aim is to not concede, we have to improve,” added Ranieri. “Catania are quick and slippery and are more of a team than us at the moment.
“They are compact and make life difficult. There’s always pressure but you have to shut it out to give your maximum.
“We’ll need character and intelligence. They’ll put us under pressure and we have to be ready.”
ROME (AFP)
Tags: 37th birthday, aim, birthday boy, boss, captain Totti, catania, CHELSEA, Claudio Ranieri, club captain, coach claudio, francesco totti, intelligence, juventus, Palermo, Roma, ROME, sicily, star playerRelated posts
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