AS Roma, and the Milan San Siro stadium. For twenty years, San Siro has been Roma’s Kryptonite. For twenty years they were unable to win there.
But on Saturday night, Roma managed to win, and win handily against their rivals from the north, in San Siro stadium, breaking the score-long curse. And to boot, though it in no way should be an add-on to the celebration, it was the 1000th victory for the giallorossi.
Sweet. And the game, won by a 2-1 margin, also marked a return to form for il capitano Francesco Totti. He had a doppieta, scoring the first goal in the sixth minute, which was described in sports paper Corriere dello Sport, as being “100 kilometres an hour.” It did look like a corker when I saw it in the half-time replays.
He also scored the winner. With a powerful header. After Milan tied it early in the second half, Totti ran clear in the box onto a beautiful one-touch cross from Mancini, who was sent through by midfielder Aquilani. Tic-tac-TOTTIGOL!
Though it was Totti’s game, Aquilani’s form didn’t go unnoticed by national coach Donadoni. He’s been called into the line-up for this Wednesday’s friendly against Turkey.
Saturday’s North-South rumble was a helluva game of high action passionate football, which I enjoyed in a pub off Pazza Navona, with a couple of friends from my improv workshop.
After Sundays matches Roma remains in third behind Inter and Palermo, but the hometown boys are looking in fine form, and showed up and ran the show.
Unlike my Canucks.
