The introduction of Francesco Totti with five minutes remaining inspired Roma to an unlikely 3-2 victory over Torino in Serie A at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday evening, as two goals from ‘Il Capitano’ in three minutes earned all three points for the hosts.Tempers flared between the striker and Luciano Spalletti after Sunday’s 3-3 draw at Atalanta, with witnesses reporting that the pair ended up hurling insults at each other shortly before returning to the changing rooms despite the 39-year-old rescuing a point for his team.Unsurprisingly, the Lupi faithful showed exactly where their allegiances lie with a show of support for their captain before the game and were ecstatic as their No.10 turned the game on it’s head.
A Josef Martinez shot from distance set the tone and had Wojciech Szczesny scrambling across his goal after just 30 seconds when Kostas Manolas failed to deal with a routine long ball, with the 22-year-old Venezuelan flashing his effort narrowly wide of the target.After a faltering start, the hosts created their first chance of the match in the seventh minute when Maicon cut in from the right wing and curled an effort with the outside of his right boot towards Daniele Padelli which the Italian goalkeeper easily turned over his crossbar.Martinez got the better of Manolas once again midway through the first half, but fired over with goal at his mercy.
Giampiero Ventura’s game plan left the Giallorossi struggling to maintain possession and the 68-year-old saw Andrea Belotti crash a 30-yard shot off the foot of Szczesny’s post.Manolas’ nightmare continued when he dragged Belotti to the ground inside the penalty area, with referee Gianpaolo Calvarese awarding the Granata a spot kick. Belotti dusted himself down to stroke the ball past Szczesny for a deserved lead going into the break.The second period saw Spalletti’s men press the visitors higher up the pitch and eventually level matters as Greek international defender Manolas rose highest to direct a header into the corner from Diego Perotti’s corner kick and atone for his earlier mistake.
With less than ten minutes remaining, Martinez side footed Bruno Peres’ pinpoint cross into an empty net to restore the lead as Maicon switched off in the Giallorossi defence with the home team lacking enthusiasm.Totti immediately changed the atmosphere both on and off the pitch and scored seconds after his introduction when he latched on to a loose ball before firing a penalty into the corner to send the crowd into raptures in the Eternal City.Next up for Roma is a crucial clash with Napoli in the capital on Monday afternoon while Torino host Sassuolo in Turin 24 hours earlier.
