Totti inspires Roma to Parma victory

Goals from Francesco Totti and Rodrigo Taddei helped AS Roma to a 2-1 victory at Parma FC which lifts the Giallorossi a point above FC Internazionale Milano at the top of Serie A for 24 hours at least.

Roma responded in perfect fashion to losing their 24-match unbeaten league run last weekend by opening the scoring within five minutes through Totti. Daniele De Rossi received possession on the halfway line from Mirko Vučinić and picked out his captain with a pass which Totti took delightfully on his chest before dinking the ball over Antonio Mirante. Claudio Ranieri's side had to wait until 15 minutes from time to double their lead and again Totti was involved, linking up with Luca Toni and crossing to the far post where the unmarked Taddei headed in.

Substitute Davide Lanzafame (81) reduced the arrears but any hope they had of claiming a point disappeared when Luis Jiménez was dismissed late on. Roma will hope their city rivals, S.S. Lazio, can upset Inter when the teams meet at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday. Elsewhere on Saturday, Ronaldinho's penalty 12 minutes from time proved decisive as third-placed AC Milan beat ACF Fiorentina 1-0. The Rossoneri played the closing stages with ten men after Massimo Ambrosini (87) collected a second yellow card for a challenge on Alberto Gilardino.