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Serie A wrap: Totti inspires Roma as Atalanta triumph

SoccerNews in Serie A 8 Dec 2012

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A brace from Francesco Totti helped Roma to a thrilling 4-2 victory over Fiorentina in Serie A action on Saturday, while Atalanta also won.

Fiorentina, who welcomed star striker Stevan Jovetic back to their match day squad, made a positive start to proceedings and were unfortunate not to take the lead when Manuel Pasqual forced goalkeeper Mauro Goicoechea into a decent save.

However, the visitors found themselves behind after just seven minutes when Roma defender Leandro Castan turned the ball over the line and into the back of the net.

Totti whipped in a free kick that found Panagiotis Tachtsidis and his headed effort fell short of the goal before Castan got the final touch.

Roma’s lead was short-lived, however, as Facundo Roncaglia scored for Fiorentina seven minutes later at the Stadio Olimpico.

The Roman outfit restored their advantage in the space of five minutes as the game showed no signs of easing up.

Mattia Destro played in Totti and the 36-year-old made no mistake in front of goal to make it 2-1 to the hosts.

Both sides had chances to score but it was Roma who extended their lead on the stroke of half-time, with Totti unleashing a curling effort from outside the box.

Fiorentina refused to give up hope and responded within a minute of the second-half restart, Mounir El Hamdaoui heading home from a Borja Valero cross.

American international midfielder Michael Bradley then came close to restoring the hosts’ two-goal buffer but his strike was cleared off the line.

However, it mattered little as striker Pablo Osvaldo latched onto Totti pass before firing the ball home from close range to complete the triumph.

The result sees Roma leapfrog Fiorentina into fourth place on goal difference.

Meanwhile, Atalanta ended a three-game losing streak after they defeated Parma 2-1.

The home side hit the front on four minutes through German Denis, before Federico Peluso tucked home a rebound to double Atalanta’s lead seven minutes before the break.

Amauri, who is in his third stint with Parma, pulled a goal back seconds before half-time but it proved to be in vein as Atalanta held on for all three points.

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