Mirko Vucinic
ROME – AS Roma scored three unanswered goals to edge Lazio 3-2 in the Rome derby Wednesday, while Inter Milan, Juventus and Fiorentina also won, keeping the top of the Italian league standings unchanged.
After Tommaso Rocchi put Lazio ahead in the 12th minute, Roma – which was without injured captain Francesco Totti – replied with goals from Mirko Vucinic, Amantino Mancini and Simone Perrotta. Cristian Ledesma added another goal for Lazio in the 70th from a free kick.
"It was an even match," Roma coach Luciano Spalletti said. "They did well to verticalize right away. They played a very good game."
Vucinic also scored winners against Sporting Lisbon in the European Champions League and AC Milan in Roma’s last two games.
"Vucinic could also play with Totti," Spalletti said. "The two could coexist very well."
AC Milan, which has failed to win at home in the league this season, routed Sampdoria 5-0 in Genoa with two goals by Alberto Gilardino and one each from Kaka, Joann Gourcuff and Clarence Seedorf.
While Milan has failed to score in its last two home games, it has 10 in its last two road matches following a 5-1 rout of Lazio earlier this month.
Inter beat Genoa 4-1 with goals from Ivan Cordoba, Esteban Cambiasso, David Suazo and Julio Ricardo Cruz on a late penalty.
David Trezeget scored all three in Juventus’ 3-0 win over Empoli to give him a league-leading 10 goals.
"Trezeguet was marvelous. He says he’s never felt so well physically," Juventus manager Claudio Ranieri said.
Portugal midfielder Tiago Mendes also performed well, providing the pass to Trezeguet before the Frenchman drew a penalty kick for his first goal, setting up Trezeguet’s second goal and taking a shot on goal which Trezeguet converted the rebound from for his third goal.
"He played very well for the entire match. He was always at the centre of the play. He took control of the squad," Ranieri said of Tiago.
On Sunday, Juventus hosts Inter.
"Now let’s think about Inter to try and make this season (interesting)," Ranieri said. "If Inter breaks away, only Roma is capable of following."
In Florence, Christian Vieri celebrated his first start in this season’s Serie A by scoring off a cross from Adrian Mutu in the 61st as Fiorentina beat Napoli 1-0.
Inter leads with 24 points. Roma is next with 21 points, followed by Juventus and Fiorentina with 20 each.
"Now Roma could have an advantage with the schedule," Inter coach Roberto Mancini said. Roma will have 12 games with inferior teams. It could be a good situation for them, although certain games could still provide problems."
Milan is tied with Genoa for 10th with 13 points.
Also, it was: Atalanta 2, Cagliari 2; Palermo 1, Parma 1; Reggina 1, Livorno 3; Siena 1, Catania 1; and Udinese 2, Torino 1.
Source: Roma beats Lazio 3-2 in capital derby
