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Amantino Mancini was inspirational as a Roma side without Francesco Totti still won the Derby della Capitale 3-2!
It was a must-win game for both sides with more than bragging rights at stake. The Giallorossi were without captain Francesco Totti, but Mirko Vucinic filled in admirably with the winner away to Milan on Sunday, a result that put them back in the title race. Lazio were in the bottom half of the table and missing Mobido Diakhitè, Stefano Mauri and Sebastiano Siviglia. At least Luciano Zauri and Fabio Firmani returned from their bans, while Cristian Ledesma recovered from injury.
The Biancocelesti had lost two consecutive games at the Olimpico and their last victory as the 'away' side in a derby was November 1, 1997.
Amantino Mancini drilled off target from a dangerous position and 10 seconds later Lazio took the lead. Tommaso Rocchi struck on the counter to place a precise angled drive into the far bottom corner of the net. It was his third goal in a Rome derby and the striker took advantage of Philippe Mexes's mistake on the offside trap.
The 43-year-old Lazio goalkeeper Marco Ballotta rushed out to close down Mirko Vucinic, who should have done better when he was sent clear on goal.
Vucinic made up for that error by finalising a classic Giallorossi style team goal. He exchanged a series of eight passes with Simone Perrotta, David Pizarro and Mancini to tear the Lazio defence apart and fired low with the inside of his left foot.
Roma were taking control now and went 2-1 up just before half-time. It was a not dissimilar move, as Mancini ran forward and exchanged passes with Mexes to fire into the far top corner, but once again the Lazio defence was static.
Mancini's step-overs confused Luciano Zauri and he cut back for a Vucinic effort saved by Ballotta.
Mourad Meghni replaced Christian Manfredini for the second half, giving Lazio more creativity in midfield, but Ballotta came to the rescue again by punching a Perrotta header over the bar.
Perrotta's celebration was only postponed by a few moments. Vucinic deserves much of the credit for a spectacular volleyed assist, hooking Max Tonetto's pass over his head for the on-rushing Perrotta. The World Cup winner still had a lot to do and chipped Ballotta before tapping into the empty net.
Lazio got back into the match thanks to a stunning Ledesma free kick that curled over the wall and ricocheted in off the underside of the crossbar, but Roma held out for the victory.
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