Roma finally got their first win of the campaign as Christian Panucci, Simone Perrotta and a cracking Alberto Aquilani goal sank Reggina 3-0.

Both sides were without a win going into the third round and the Giallorossi needed to escape their crisis of one point from three games, including the midweek Champions League home defeat to debutants Cluj. Francesco Totti, Philippe Mexes and Simone Perrotta were only fit for the bench, while Juan was out, so Simone Loria had to improvise as a central defender with Christian Panucci.

There was a moving moment before kick-off, as the Curva Sud unveiled a giant image of recently deceased President Franco Sensi with the phrase 'What we do in life echoes throughout eternity. Grazie, Presidente.'

Di Gennaro hit the woodwork directly from a corner kick last weekend and almost did it again in the opening 120 seconds. Soon after, Luca Vigiani's impressive strike with the outside of his right foot swung inches past the far post.

Roma also threatened as Rodrigo Taddei's cross was powerfully volleyed just over the bar by Matteo Brighi, while Alberto Aquilani flashed a snapshot off target.

Loria was accidentally felled by a knee to the side of the head by goalkeeper Alexander Doni, but he was able to continue with a large bandage to stem the bleeding.

Edgar Barreto drilled a free kick wide from 30 metres, but Roma had a fine chance on 31 minutes. Aquilani and Taddei combined for Jeremy Menez to put a cross back across the face of goal, but nobody was ready for the tap-in.

Towards half-time, the Giallorossi seemed increasingly desperate as Menez and Daniele De Rossi ballooned hopeful efforts well over from improbable distances.

However, they broke through in first half stoppages at the end of a chaotic move. The De Rossi free kick ricocheted around the penalty area with Campagnolo performing a desperate save on Mirko Vucinic, Aquilani missed the backheel, but it fell to the totally unmarked Panucci at the back post.

Franco Brienza returned from a muscular problem to replace Di Gennaro for the second half. Doni plucked a fierce Barilla' strike out from under the bar, but at the other end Vucinic tested Campagnolo at the near post.

Aquilani pulled a fantastic goal out of nowhere to double Roma's advantage six minutes into the second period. The home-grown talent surged forward from the centre-circle and unleashed a left-foot missile into the near top corner from just inside the box, giving the goalkeeper no chance. The shot was measured as travelling at 93km/h.

It was an important moment, as in their last three games the Giallorossi had taken the lead only to throw it away against Napoli, Palermo and Cluj. Vucinic turned a hopeful volley off target and Reggina switched to a trident attack with Fabio Ceravolo replacing Vigiani.

Vucinic almost scored a bizarre goal, as a sliding tackle from Valdez blocked his path, but from the ground he tried to flick it under the bar and brought a marvellous fingertip save out of Campagnolo.

Vucinic went on the counter from his own penalty area to eventually fire not far over. Substitute Simone Perrotta wasted a golden opportunity when he didn't trust to fire with his weaker left foot and in hesitating allowed Valdez to recover.

Francesco Totti made his comeback from a knee injury, having missed the games with Palermo and Cluj. Within seconds he had threaded through for Perrotta to hit the outside of the post, but the midfielder was flagged offside in a very tight decision.

Bernardo Corradi drilled inches over the bar from a tight angle, but it was all Roma now and Campagnolo flew to palm a Panucci bullet header out from under the bar.

John Arne Riise's angled drive was scuffed in one of his few successful forays forward. Reggina hadn't given up yet and Fabio Ceravolo went on a mazy run to test Doni at the near post. Cicinho ballooned over from a promising Matteo Brighi assist in stoppages.

The scoreline was sealed with the last kick of the game, as a Totti free kick was parried into the path of Perrotta for a close-range tap-in.