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UEFA Champions League Group F Result Matchday 3: AS Roma 2 - 1 Sporting Lisbon "A Deciding Match for Roma at the Olimpico"
AS ROMA 2 - 1 SPORTING LISBON 
15' Juan 18' M. Liedson
70' M. Vucinic
Substitutions:
35' Totti out Vucinic in 71' Vukcevic out Paredes in
73' Giuli out Brighi in 77' Ronny is out M. Purovic in
87' Mancini out Cicinho in
By Anna Italia
The day has come for Roma to redeemed themselves after the 4-4 draw with Napoli. Roma fans want to celebrate in the Olimpico, a draw against Sporting Lisbon will not satisfy them. The two men to watch for their goal skills and team motivation are Captain Francesco Totti for Roma and Forward Liedson for Sporting Lisbon.
The match starts with Roma crowd cheering strongly for their team. Chants go for Captain Totti.
In the 5th minute Sporting Tonel gives away a free-kick following a challenge on Francesco Totti.
In the 8th minute, Sporting Lisbon has an opportunity to score with Vukčević but Roma goalkeeper DONI makes a save.
In the 10th minute, forward Liedson commits a foul, Roma striker Mancini takes the corner.
A corner for AS Roma, Chilean David Pizarro ready to kick. The party explodes in the Eternal City when Brazilian defender Juan opened the score in the 15th minute for AS ROMA! Juan heads the ball after escaping his markers and blasting goalkeeper Tiago. The Olimpico cheer their gladiators. Happiness lasted few minutes. Liedson, the man to watch from Sporting, equalized the match in the 18th minute. A silence ... the Olimpico was silenced.
Totti cannot make it. Spalletti substitutes him in the 35th minute for Vucinic.
The second half started with Sporting dominating the match.
What a great action, a suspense. In the 46th minute, Roma defender Philippe Mexes gives away a free-kick following a challenge on Liedson. Just one minute later, Vucinic was fouled in the penalty area by Sporting player Tonel. Referee Terje Hauge gives a penalty to AS ROMA. Mancini is at the spot... can he score? NO!
What a save from Sporting goalkeeper Tiago!! The save of the match. Tiago Savior of Sporting! Mancini just missed a golden opportunity to get a victory.
Clear domination of Sporting. Roma seem lost, Totti is greatly missed. Sporting Tonel again commits a foul in the 52nd minute after challenging Mancini.
Roma goalkeeper Doni has saved Roma from a goleada when Sporting is clearly dominating. In the 60th minute, Sporting Liedson has an opportunity to score when Roma goalkeeper Doni makes a save denying him the chance to close the match.
In the 70th minute, the joy explodes again in the Olimpico when Roma forward Mirko VUCINIC gives the winning goal to ROMA. Vucinic passed Marat Izmailov, then beat Tonel finding a gap precisely at the near-post to blast Sporting goalkeeper Tiago.Sadly for Sporting who were dominating the match. A great shout is felt at the Olimpico, the gladiators are alive! Roma coach Spalletti must be happy with Vucinic who substituted Captain Francesco Totti.
Roma made second substitution in the 73rd minute. Giuli is out and Brighi in. There is no indication that young Portuguese Gabriel Antunes will be in. Portuguese fans are waiting for Antunes, especially our frequent blog commentator Ricardo15.
That's it. No playing time for left-back Antunes. Spalletti makes his 3rd change in the 87th minute Mancini is out Cicinho is in.
In the 90th minute, Roma goalkeeper SAINT DONI makes a spectacular save after Sporting Miguel Veloso tries to equalize the match. Few more minutes, Roma cannot lose the match... time to fight until the last minute to keep the victory.
GAME IS OVER! AS Roma got the 3 points! The Olimpico celebrates the victory. Today, an important day for Italian teams, Inter and Roma won their matches.
LINE UP
AS ROMA 2 - 1 Sporting Lisbon
Olimpico Stadium
Roma, Italy
Goalkeepers: CURCI Gianluca, MARANGON Alexander (Doni), BERTAGNOLI Julio Sergio
Defenders: ANTUNES Gabriel, MEXES Philippe, PANUCCI Christian, CICINHO, Juan, GIULY Ludovic, TONETTO Max, FERRARI Matteo, CASSETTI Marco
Midfielders: PERROTTA Simone, DE ROSSI Daniele, PIZARRO David, BRIGHI Matteo, BARUSSO Ahmed, PIT Adrian
Forwards: TOTTI Francesco, VUCINIC Mirko, MANCINI Alessandro
I'm hearing it on Antena 1 online. Yeah Sporting tied! As soon as Liedson scored I thought "oh no, Roma is playing like in the Serie A, score 1, lose the lead, tie the game, lose the lead... Always playing catch-up
One of them has to win! A tie is not good for them. Roma is at home, they have to keep the lead. SErie A teams are much more technical than Sporting. I expect Roma to control possession, and not give sporting chances to shoot on target. Other than Liedson, Roma need to make sure Miguel Veloso -the blond- doesn't have enough space to shoot from midfield. He's like Roma's De Rossi, a midfielder that can score from his position to save a game.
I hope Antunes gets a few minutes, he's on the bench
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Ricardo15 I am sorry for your lost, especially for not seeing Antunes playing. I am starting to wonder why Spalletti never include this defender.
I am happy for Roma victory and Inter.
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Pietro so happy for AS ROMA victory! Yet, like you, I was concerned about Ricardo15 and his favorite players Antunes. Just like you, I am also curious to know why Spalletti does not trusting him enough.
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Sporting played with a lot of heart. I was on the edge of my seat until the final whistle knowing Roma's penchant for giving up late goals. While Roma is always exciting to watch, their play really makes their fans nervous! I was disappointed by the missed penalty and some spotty defensive play. I would love to see Roma win a game convincingly.
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Kenntak I agree with you partially. It was obvious that after Totti's substitution Roma lost concentration. Sporting dominated the match especially in the second half. Just when one were expecting a goal from Lisbon, surprise... a goal from Vucinic. Sure, what a missed opportunity for MANCINI... he must be knocking his head "how could I missed that penalty!"
Definitely, not only you, but all of us would like to see ROMA winning convincingly.
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Don't even talk to me
Sporting had everything to win- control, shots on target, excellent gk, team work, and "tranquilidade" as Paolo Bento says. What more morale boost than stopping Mancini's missed penalty?
Still all is not lost. Sporting can win their last 2 gamnes, and scoring twice against Roma in Lisbon, is a piece of cake. I have faith that Man U and Sporting will pass. Roma showed its weakness: not controlling the game, Mancini was not the dangerous Mancini we all know, once Totti leaves the pitch, Roma players take too much time to get motivated again and play as a team... I expected a Roma victory by a 2 goal difference. If not at home then where? I'm still proud of Sporting because they made it hard for Roma to win convincingly.
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Ricardo15 I understand how you must feel. I followed the match on the Portuguese radio Antena 1 because ESPN did not broadcast it live. I was surprised to see how the narrator keeps prasing Francesco Totti and not much his own player forward Liedson. His admiration for TOTTI was evident and I don't blame him, Totti is a great player.
I will give Sporting Lisbon credit for not giving up after Roma's first goal. For a moment, I thought Sporting was going to win the match as they were clearly dominating. Good you are still proud of Sporting. You made a strong point LOUD AND CLEAR: Sporting made it hard for Roma to win convincingly.
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Ricardo15 I agree Roma did not win easily and actually Sporting Lisbon almost won the match had not been by Roma goalkeeper Doni.
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Hey, all,
I couldn't watch the game, but i saw the brief. It was really disappointing when saw Mancini lost the penalty! I ws shocked and was thinking where Totti was. And i jsut knew he was out for Vucinic. Why Spaletti did it? I never understand. It was most decisive match for them, indeed? No bad words for him! or Totti's ankle has also been bad? I don't know.
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Hello Suri we were all mad when Mancini lost the opportunity to score the winning goal. Spalletti had no other choice than substitute Totti because he got injured apparently.
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Really? I am sorry for Totti so much!
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Suri Totti asked for the change after he was injured in the right ankle. He could not continued the match and rightly asked for the change. Good thing is that his substitute Mirko Vucinic proved his worth to give Roma the winning goal.
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Dear Anna,
Thanks to your information, and i just saw how Totti got injured when going to kick free-kick on RTR Sports channel's brief. I am so sorry for him and Roma because this weekend they will face with Milan, yeah? Roma will be embarrassed without him as it will be too hard to them.
But it lasted only to wish Totti be recovered as soon as possible.
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