Sport category: Soccer On The Continent Roma Joy Turns Sour
Date: 20-02-2006 23:08
Some time ago, we told you that Roma were a side on the up and up, and they went into this weekend's Serie A action needing just one win to equal the all-time record of 10 consecutive victories held by AC Milan (1950-51), Bologna (1963-1964) and Juventus (1931-32). A 1-0 win over Empoli on Saturday helped them achieve just that, but the triumph was spoilt slightly by talismanic captain Francesco Totti breaking a bone in his leg.
It happened just 12 minutes into the match in a challenge by Richard Vanigli, leaving Totti with a fractured fibula and ankle ligament damage. Nowhere near the kind of injury suffered by Alan Smith this weekend, but still a big blow for Roma and a worry for Italy's World Cup chances. Vanigli was quick to try and spare himself from any kind of public lynching from irate Azzurri fans for damaging a national hero, insisting that it was an accident.
"I don't make a habit of hurting opponents - especially not a great player like Totti," he said. "I am devastated and want to say sorry in public. I arrived a bit late from behind but I went for the ball and my conscience is clear even if I am feeling bad. I haven't spoken to Totti but I hope to go and see him and speak to him as soon as possible." Fortunately, Roma coach Luciano Spalletti agreed: "Vanigli's foul was not a nasty one but these are the risks with tackles from behind - that's what I think when I see the replay on TV."
Of more immediate concern is that Totti is expected to be out for three months, which would rule him out of the rest of Roma's campaign, just when they were looking like they would be able to challenge up at the top of Serie A. As well as equalling the record, the 1-0 win over Empoli saw them rise to fourth place, thanks to neighbours Lazio's 2-1 win at Fiorentina. The Giallorossi can expect no such favours when they look to break the record in their next match - against Lazio.
They have to face them without Totti, but Spalletti revealed that the captain was in a positive mood when he visited him after surgery: "Francesco is already talking about his comeback," he said. "He's calm, joking and making light of his situation. I was expecting him to be depressed, but instead he's in a good mood. He joked that his son Cristian will take his place for Roma against Lazio next Sunday."
Roma are now just four points behind Internazionale, who have slipped to third place after only getting a 0-0 draw at Livorno on Saturday. Juventus were also held to a 2-2 draw at Messina, having been reduced to ten men by the sending-off of Fabio Cannavaro after Sergio Floccari had given the strugglers a shock third-minute lead. Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Adrian Mutu made it 2-1, only for Floccari to snatch a late equaliser.
Both results made it a better weekend for AC Milan than they have had for some time, moving two points above Inter thanks to a 1-0 win over Cagliari, earned by Albert Gilardinho's penalty. They still trail Juve by a whopping 10 points, but if Milan can pull away from the pack and secure second place and the automatic Champions League place for next season, it could be enough to spare Carlo Ancelotti from the chop.
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Some time ago, we told you that Roma were a side on the up and up, and they went into this weekend's Serie A action needing just one win to equal the all-time record of 10 consecutive victories held by AC Milan (1950-51), Bologna (1963-1964) and Juventus (1931-32). A 1-0 win over Empoli on Saturday helped them achieve just that, but the triumph was spoilt slightly by talismanic captain Francesco Totti breaking a bone in his leg.