Totti gives another masterclass in Roma win
Updated: 2013-03-18 09:40
(Agencies)
|
||||||||
MILAN - AS Roma stalwart Francesco Totti, 36, gave another masterclass, including a goal for the record books, an extraordinary free kick and an almost unbelievable backheel pass, in their 2-0 Serie A win over Parma on Sunday.
One of the modern game's very few one-club players, Totti is in his 21st season with Roma and has found a new lease of after briefly falling out of favour with some of the club's recent coaches.
He crowned his performance with a low free kick in the 70th minute to become Serie A's second highest scorer in his own right with 226 goals, one ahead of Sweden's Gunnar Nordahl who played for AC Milan and Roma in the 1950s.
But there were two other incidents that caught the eye, including his one-two with Simone Perrotta.
Breaking down the left touchline, Perotta clipped the ball to Totti who somehow turned his back to the ball and backheeled it perfectly inside a defender and into the path of his team mate who was given a clear run on goal.
Early in the second half, Totti took a free kick on the left hand side of the penalty area, around 10 metres from the goal line, and struck a ferocious effort which hit the underside of the bar and the inside of the post.
"I'm happy to have overtaken Nordahl, I think it's been a wonderful evening, the sort we all wanted," he told reporters, adding that he would now aim for Silvio Piola's record of 274.
"But, most of all, qualifying for Europa is what counts. Roma can't just play in the Italian championship."
- 'Taken 2' grabs movie box office crown
- Rihanna's 'Diamonds' tops UK pop chart
- Fans get look at vintage Rolling Stones
- Celebrities attend Power of Women event
- Ang Lee breaks 'every rule' to make unlikely new Life of Pi film
- Rihanna almost thrown out of nightclub
- 'Dark Knight' wins weekend box office
- 'Total Recall' stars gather in Beverly Hills
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
American abroad |
Industry savior: Big boys' toys |
New commissioner
|
Liaoning: China's oceangoing giant |
TCM - Keeping healthy in Chinese way |
Poultry industry under pressure |
Today's Top News
Boston bombing suspect reported cornered on boat
7.0-magnitude quake hits Sichuan
Cross-talk artist helps to spread the word
'Green' awareness levels drop in Beijing
Palace Museum spruces up
First couple on Time's list of most influential
H7N9 flu transmission studied
Trading channels 'need to broaden'
US Weekly
Beyond Yao
|
Money power |