Mirko Vucinic slams home a free kick to make it 2-1 to
Roma
A Mirko Vucinic double earned Roma a 2-1
victory over city rivals Lazio and
lifted them back into first place in Serie A, overtaking Inter who
defeated Juventus 2-0 on Friday.
Roma were forced to sweat in the final stages but held on for a
vital win in the race for the Scudetto. Lazio ended the
game with just ten men after Cristian Ledesma was sent off for a
second bookable offence in injury time.
Roma coach Claudio Ranieri admits his players must learn how to
cope better under pressure as the Serie A title race hots up. Roma
trailed 1-0 at half-time and Ranieri took the bold decision to
substitute skipper Francesco Totti and his vice-captain Daniele De
Rossi.
"Why did I substitute Totti and De Rossi? They feel the derby
too much,'' Ranieri said. "They don't play like they can when they
face Lazio and were too heated up in the first half. That is why I
took them off.
"In my career, I have taken many decisions like this one. For
example, in Valencia I brought off Romario. I do it all for the
good of the team. As it is, we are up there (top of the standings)
and my players are not used to that pressure. We just have to enjoy
it and wait to see where we finish.''
Sampdoria practically ended AC
Milan's slim title hopes with a 2-1
win which puts them on course for Champions
League football next season.
Marco Borriello put the visitors ahead against the run of play
in the 20th minute, but a red card for central defender Daniele
Bonera early in the second half, which led to Antonio Cassano
levelling from the penalty spot, tipped the scales in the home
side's favour.
They left it late to net a winner, though, with Giampaolo
Pazzini nodding in their second in stoppage time to boost their
hopes of playing in the Champions League next season.
With four games of the season remaining, they lead fifth-placed
Palermo by two points while Milan find themselves six adrift of
league leaders Inter Milan and unlikely to now challenge for
silverware.