A sensational Simone Perrotta overhead kick and last-gasp Mirko Vucinic strike saw Roma fight back in a five-goal thriller.

The Giallorossi were in splendid form after securing top spot in their Champions League group and came into this round with six consecutive wins in all competition. Despite that, they were still level on points with Cagliari (and a game in hand) and had to do without the suspended Matteo Brighi. Goalkeeper Alexander Doni pulled out with a back problem, so fellow Brazilian Artur took the gloves for the second time this season.

The Sardinians were not to be sniffed at, as they had 10 points from the previous four matches and extended Coach Massimiliano Allegri's contract. Paolo Bianco sat out a ban, while Michele Ferri and Alessandro Matri were injured.

Marco Cassetti fired over, but Artur had to smother an early attempt from Daniele Conti - the son of Roma director Bruno. Cicinho's cross wasted some glorious work by Francesco Totti, who trapped a long ball, controlled with the sole of one foot and backheeled it with the other.

Michele Fini's cross-shot almost caught Artur by surprise, but Mirko Vucinic cracked a blockbuster against the frame of the goal with Marchetti rooted to the spot. It was a powerful and curling right-foot shot from outside the box that was so close to a sensational finish in the far top corner.

Conti blasted just wide of the near post, while Marchetti repeatedly smothered Vucinic efforts. Vucinic wanted a penalty for a coming together with Pisano, but the referee just awarded the goal kick.

Totti had a great performance with flicks and tricks all over the field and he opened the scoring just before the break. Vucinic knocked it down for a powerful and preciseleft-foot daisy-cutter into the near corner.

Totti's splendid cross-field pass sparked a counter from Cagliari's corner kick with Marchetti at full stretch to tip Cicinho's angled drive round the far post. Julio Baptista put the ball in the back of the net from the corner, but he was correctly flagged offside.

Conti scored against his former club with a stunning strike. The free kick was touched on and he blasted an unstoppable effort into the far top corner where Artur could not reach.

It should've been 2-1 for the Sardinians two minutes later, but Jeda incredibly ballooned off target when totally clear on goal at the back post following a trademark counter-attack!

The warning was not heeded, as Cagliari did take the lead. Jeda fired Andrea Cossu's horizontal pass in to the bottom near corner from the D.

The game sprung to life and Roma grabbed an equaliser with an absolutely sensational goal! Simone Perrotta had his back to goal at the far post, so he performed a wonderful overhead kick that looped over Marchetti and into the far top corner. The goalkeeper had rushed out to capture Totti's knockdown, but Perrotta anticipated him with the extraordinary finish.

Totti came so close to a third Roma goal, but his trademark chip cracked against the crossbar. Soon after, Perrotta drilled just wide.

Deep into stoppages Vucinic got the goal he had been searching for all afternoon. A Jeremy Menez pass was not cleared effectively and Vucinic's finish nutmegged a defender from seven yards. His celebration was a little strange, as the Montenegrin took off his shirt and his shorts before running under the curva to salute the fans.