New Delhi: Roma were completely in control at the Stadio Via Del Mare. I Lupi ran out easy 3-0 winners, picking up their first away win of the Serie A campaign.
Pre-Match News
Coach Luciano Spalletti made a few changes to the Rome derby winning line-up from last week. John Arne Riise regained his place at left back, whole Rodrigo Taddei was inserted into the midfield. Despite recovering Alberto Aquilani found himmelf on the substitutes bench.
There were few surprises in the Lecce line-up, but Jose Castillo was preferred to Daniele Cacia in attack as Simone Tiribocchi's partner.
First Half
Roma picked up where they left off last week and had an extremely good start to the match.
After just three minutes Riise made a good forward run in open space, but his low shot was well saved by Benussi. From the ensuing chaos following the rebound there was a handball just outside the area, but Julio Baptista slipped while taking the central free-kick.
The slip would not be in the back of his mind for long though, as Roma took the lead. Francesco Totti's through ball found ex-Lecce striker Mirko Vucinic, who placed a low finish at the far post to give Roma an early lead.
The goal seemed to awaken the Salentini, their pressure nearly resulted in a mistake from Riise, whose backpass was almost too soft for goalkeeper Alexander Doni.
Lecce had numbers on the counter attack, but Castillo's cross was a touch too high for Tiribocchi who could not redirect the ball.
Both squads seemed happy to spray the ball around in midfield looking for an opening, but rarely found one, usually conceding possession to the opponent.
On 36 minutes, Giaccomazzi decided to try his luck from distance, but it ended up high above the crossbar.
Roma then doubled their lead! The Giallorossi won a corner and Matteo Brighi's volley from outside the box was deflected straight into the path of Juan who had an easy tap-in.
Then Roma tried to close off the match with a third, but the opportunity was wasted because of a Julio Baptista foul on a Lecce defender. Now Luciano Spalletti's men were getting behind the ball and Lecce found it difficult to break them down.
Totti skipped past his marker and set-up Baptista, but the Brazilian's shot was too central and Brighi's shot on the rebound was too soft, so Benussi collected and cleared the ball.
The half ended 2-0 in favour of Roma and Mario Beretta's men would have to considerably improve their performance in the second half to get a result.
Second Half
Captain Francesco Totti has been in fine form since returning from injury and he ensured Roma the three points on 49 minutes. The World Cup winner placed a shot in the lower right corner by chipping the on-rushing Benussi.
Soon after it could have easily been 4-0, as Vucinic nearly grabbed a brace when his header hit the post.
Ariatti had hardly been involved in attack, but he created some space with a stepover before shooting. However, his shot had no force behind it and Doni easily saved.
In an effort to turn the match around Beretta made all three of his substitutions within a three minute span, but it seems both squads had accepted their fate.
Taddei's floated cross was in the right place for Daniele DeRossi, but his flying half-volley was wide as it was all Roma. With ten minutes left, substitute Jeremy Menez's cutback was too short for Julio Baptista.
Roma wasted a couple more opportunites, but the referee ended Lecce's miserable day by only playing thirty seconds of injury time.
Lecce 0-3 Roma
Goals: 10' Vucinic (R), 38' Juan (R), 49' Totti (R)
Lecce: Benussi - Polegnhi, Fabiano, Stendardo, Esposito - Ariatti (57' Munari), Zanchetta (60' Ardito), Giaccomazzi, Caserta - Tiribocchi, Castillo (60' Cacia)
Roma: Doni - Cassetti, Mexes, Juan (70' Loria), Riise - Taddei, Brighi, DeRossi, Julio Baptista (83' Pizzarro) - Totti, Vucinic (66' Menez).
Yellow Cards: 44' Baptista (R), 57' Esposito (L)
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