Serie A Week 4 - 29/9/02 (15.00)
Brescia 2 - 3 Roma
Totti pen 30, 41, 80 (R), Baggio pen 45 (B), Schopp 84 (B)
Stadio Rigamonti
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Roma the first points of the Serie A campaign thanks to a Francesco Totti hat-trick, but it was an extremely controversial encounter at the Rigamonti Stadium with five goals, three red cards and three penalties.
The Giallorossi left Gabriel Batistuta on the bench in favour of Vincenzo Montella.
Fabio Capello had real problems in defence and was forced to pick back three Walter Samuel, Traianos Dellas and the under-fire Jonathan Zebina due to Cufre's injury and a Christian Panucci ban. Pep Guardiola was again left out despite the return to his former stomping ground.
Roberto Baggio's angled drive was well blocked by Francesco Antonioli as Brescia put early pressure on the visitors.
There was controversy at both ends of the field early on. Igli Tare fell under pressure from Zebina before the Albanian international accidentally handled the ball as Francesco Totti's free kick hit the defensive wall.
The referee eventually pointed to the spot when Martinez hacked down Emerson on the counter-attack, although the foul did appear to start outside the box.
Francesco Totti stepped up and converted to give Roma a precious lead. So far this season the Giallorossi are yet to score from open play, netting only with three penalties.
Totti's second strike was also a set-piece, but his curling free kick into the near corner was unstoppable for Pavel Srnicek. It was a splendid goal from the Roma captain who this week rowed with Coach Fabio Capello over the amount of effort he was putting in to training.
There was further controversy over refereeing when Brescia were left in ten men just before the break. Antonio Filippini, who was already booked, was perhaps harshly shown a second yellow card for diving in the box. There was slight contact, although the midfielder clearly accentuated the fall.
The action wasn't over as in stoppage time Roberto Baggio curled around Walter Samuel and the referee pointed to the spot, although there did not appear to be any foul.
The Divine Ponytail's spot-kick was saved but as Tare went to recapture the ball he was pushed in the back by Montella and another new penalty was given. This time Baggio did not fail and both teams went out for half-time.
Pep Guardiola was finally introduced at the dawn of the second half to take on his former club, but on 64 minutes Greek international Traianos Dellas was sent off for a second bookable offence.
Both teams are left in ten men for a tense remaining half-hour and Antonio Cassano was thrown on to give Roma more attacking potential.
The Giallorossi incredibly managed to not score when a Marcos Cafu through ball found Emerson, but Stankevicius somehow got back to clear off the line. The Brazilian could not believe he was unable to score from less than a metre outside an open goal.
Moments later on the counter-attack Roberto Baggio fired wide from close range as the Roma defence struggled. Antonioli then failed to hold a Baggio free kick and saw it squirm perilously out of reach, but Brescia were unable to take advantage.
Roma were rescued by their captain as Totti completed his hat-trick with a simply magnificent solo effort. The Italian international dribbled past defenders before unleashing an unstoppable drive from 20 metres.
It still was not over as the Roma defence failed to clear and Markus Schopp drilled in a daisy-cutter from 25 metres to re-open the game once more.
Antonioli proved decisive when diving down to turn a Martinez header round the post as Brescia piled on the pressure in stoppage time.
Capello was sent off for dissent on the sidelines and did not hide his displeasure. Jonathan Bachini soon followed for a second yellow card as the referee seemingly lost control of the match.
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Brescia: Srnicek; Stankevicius, Petruzzi, Martinez; Filippini, Appiah, Matuzalem, Seric (Schopp 69), Bachini; Baggio, Tare (Jadid 57)
Roma: Antonioli; Zebina, Samuel, Dellas; Cafu (Sartor 81), Tommasi (Guardiola 53), Emerson, Lima, Candela; Totti, Montella (Cassano 69)
Ref: Dondarini
Sent off: Filippini 44 (B), Dellas 65 (R), Bachini 93 (B)
Missed penalty: Baggio 45 (B)
Football Italia