It was worth waiting two months for this.
Roma vs. Parma: Final Score 4-2; a spectacular match two months in the making
It really was worth keeping that Google Now card around for two months: The continuation of February’s suspended match saw Roma beat Parma in a spectacular match.
Roma vs. Parma was meant to take place back in February, but a severely waterlogged pitch at the Stadio Olimpico meant the match was suspended after just eight minutes. Wednesday’s match, kicking off in the ninth minute, offered up 80-plus minutes of some of the most entertaining football seen in Serie A this season.
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Both teams had already missed a couple of chances when Gervinho zipped down the left, teeing up Mattia Destro for a shot. The strike hit the post, but Gervinho was there to tap in. The crociati protested, claiming the Ivorian was offside -- which he was, a minute later, when the ball landed in the back of the net once more. 1-0 Roma.
Just a few minutes later, Massimo Gobbi crossed the ball in for Afriyie Acquah, who had plenty of time to receive the pass, turn and shoot, while four Roma's defenders stood by to watch..
The 1-1 scoreline lasted less than 60 seconds. Miralem Pjanić dribbled down the right, finding Francesco Totti all alone in the heart of the box. Roma's captain smashed the ball into the top right corner, giving Antonio Mirante no chance.
Parma managed to head into the second half down by just a goal, but Roma needed only four minutes after the restart to go up 3-1. Alessandro Lucarelli was able to deflect a shot from Gervinho after the forward made a lovely solo run, but birthday boy Pjanić was standing by, ready to knock in the rebound. What a way for the Bosnian to celebrate his 24th birthday!
Roma, naturally, slowed it down a little after that goal, leaving the possession to Parma and trying to hit the ducali on the counter. The visitors, their 17-game unbeaten run having ended in two straight defeats, tried their best to get back in the game, but in absence of Gabriel Paletta, their defense seemed to have let them down.
Roma found acres of space behind Parma's backline, but it was a corner kick that produced the fourth goal. Rodrigo Taddei shook off Amauri to meet Pjanić's cross on the near post, putting it past Mirante for Roma's fourth of the night.
Oh, you thought that was it? Well it was for Roma. Parma pulled one back, with Jonathan Biabiany placing a beautiful shot into the top right corner of Roma's goal from the edge of the box. Too little, too late for the visitors, leaving with Roma celebrating going nine points clear of Napoli for second place.
Roma (4-3-3): De Sanctis; Maicon, Benatia, Castan, Torosidis; Taddei, De Rossi, Pjanić; Gervinho (Ljajić 87’), Totti (Bastos 76’), Destro (Florenzi 58’)
Goals: Gervinho 11’, Totti 15’, Pjanić 49’, Taddei 83’
Parma (4-3-3): Mirante; Cassani, Lucarelli, Molinaro, Gobbi; Acquah (Munari 71’), Marchionni, Parolo (Mauri 85’); Biabiany, Amauri, Schelotto (Palladino 86’)
Goals: Acquah 14’, 90’
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