Sensi Pastikan Posisi Spalletti

Presiden AS Roma Rosella Sensi mengonfirmasi posisi Luciano Spalletti sebagai pelatih menyusul spekulasi pemecatannya.

AS Roma tampil buruk saat mengawali musim 2008-09 dengan raihan tujuh poin di Serie A Italia dan menderita kekalahan memalukan dari CFR Cluj di stadion Olimpico pada partai perdana Liga Champions.

Banyak kritikan menimpa Luciano Spalletti , sehingga jabatannya sebagai pelatih I Lupi diperkirakan tinggal menghitung hari. Namun, presiden Rosella Sensi menyangkal klubnya akan melakukan pergantian pelatih, sekaligus menepis rumor perekrutan pelatih AC Milan Carlo Ancelotti -- eks pemain Roma. Sensi juga membantah terjadinya perpecahan dalam skuadnya.

"Situasi sulit ini membebani semua orang yang selalu berupaya mencari kemenangan," jelasnya kepada Forza Roma. "Roma keluarga yang hebat. Spalletti takkan digoyang, Ancelotti takkan terjadi."

Sensi resmi menjadi presiden Roma menyusul mangkatnya sang ayah, Agustus lalu, tapi sudah aktif dalam klub sejak 2004. Dia juga mengomentari kapten Francesco Totti yang lebih banyak menghiasi bangku cadangan musim ini.

"Aku tak tahu kapan dia bisa bermain, tapi aku rasa dalam waktu dekat," tuturnya. "Mungkin ini kabar terbaik saat ini."

Roma kalah 1-0 atas Siena dalam lanjutan Serie A, akhir pekan lalu. Giallorossi akan kembali beraksi saat menghadapi musuh berat Inter Milan di Olimpico usai rehat kualifikasi Piala Dunia pekan ini.

Baptista Out For Three Weeks

Roma attacking midfielder Julio Baptista will be out of action for three weeks after sustaining a thigh injury.

Roma may have finally achieved victory this season with their 3-0 defeat of Reggina, but their injury woes are not subsiding.

Summer signing Julio Baptista was scheduled to take part in the match with Reggina this weekend but had to pull out once an injury was discovered during a training session. He had scored Roma's lone goal against Palermo in the 3-1 loss last weekend.

The Brazilian will miss at least three weeks of action after injuring his femur.

Coach Luciano Spalletti has had to contend with several injuries recently. Baptista now joins Juan, Philippe Mexes and David Pizarro on the sidelines. Meanwhile, captain Francesco Totti is just returning from a lay-off period.

Baptista was one of Roma's major summer signings, arriving from Real Madrid for an initial fee of €9million. The Giallorossi were hoping he could rediscover the form he showed at Sevilla, where he scored 22 goals in one La Liga campaign.

The Brazilian should be available to play again for the crunch match with Inter on October 19 after the next international break.

Giornata 3: AS ROMA VS Reggina (Tiga Point pertama)

ROMA-REGGINA 3-0

GOALS: Panucci 46’, Aquilani 51’, Perrotta 93’

Roma (4-2-3-1): Doni; Cassetti, Loria, Panucci, Riise; De Rossi, Brighi; Taddei, Aquilani (87’ Cicinho), Menez (69’ Perrotta); Vucinic (78’ Totti). Coach: Spalletti.

Reggina (4-4-1-1): Campagnolo; Lanzaro, Valdez, Cirillo, Costa; Vigiani (62’ Ceravolo), Barreto, Carmona, Barillá (84’ Hallfredsson); Corradi; Di Gennaro (46’ Brienza). Coach: Orlandi.

REFEREE: Gervasoni

BOOKED: Valdez, Lanzaro (Re)


Akhirnya Roma sukses meraih tiga point pertama mereka di Seri - A, setelah berhasil mengalahkan Reggina di Olimpico dengan skor 3-1. Ini menjadi kemenangan perdana bagi Giallorossi musim ini setelah mengalami start yang buruk dan ini menjadi jawaban keraguan publik terhadap performa Roma yang akan menurun dalam beberapa pertandingan.


Pada pertandingan ini Luciano Spalletti menurunkan Rodrigo Taddei, Alberto Aquilani, dan Jeremy Menez di belakang striker tunggal Mirko Vucinic. Dan Totti duduk di bangku cadangan.

Gelandang Reggina Luca Vigiani mencoba tendangan spekulatif dari jarak jauh pada menit ketujuh. Tapi, masih melebar dari gawang Alexandre Doni.


Peluang pertama bagi Roma tiba menit ke-13, sayangnya sundulan Matteo Brighi -- tampil menggantikan David Pizarro yang cedera -- menyongsong umpan Vucinic, masih melambung ke atas mistar gawang.


Setelah dua peluang yang disia-siakan Menez, Giallorosso mencetak gol pembuka melalui Christian Panucci (foto). Bek senior Italia itu menyelesaikan kemelut di depan gawang Andrea Campagnolo untuk mencetak gol pada injury time.



Pelatih Reggina Nevio Orlandi memasukkan playmaker Franco Brienza menggantikan Davide di Gennaro saat jeda. Peluang tim tamu langsung tercipta tiga menit setelah kick off. Namun, Doni sigap menyelamatkan gawangnya dari tendangan Antonio Barilla.



Roma membalasnya dua menit kemudian. Menez menggiring bola memasuki kotak penalti lawan dan memberi umpan kepada Vucinic. Kali ini giliran Campagnolo yang sigap melakukan penyelamatan dari sudut sempit.

Akhirnya, Campagnolo takluk juga semenit setelahnya. Tendangan keras Aquilani dari jarak jauh tak tertahankan untuk bersarang di pojok gawang.



Roma kian percaya diri setelah gol ini dan tampil santai. Panucci hampir menambah koleksi golnya pada menit ke-54. Tapi, sundulannya tak menemui sasaran.



Sepuluh menit sebelum bubaran, Spalletti memasukkan Totti, yang membuat debut musim ini dan disambut dengan tepukan riuh tifosi stadion Olimpico. Semenit setelah itu, justru Reggina yang memperoleh peluang emas. Bernardo Corradi melakukan tendangan yang masih melambung dari mistar gawang dan gagal sudah upaya tim tamu menyusul ketertinggalan mereka.



Roma pun mengambil kesempatan. Sebuah umpan Totti dapat diselesaikan dengan baik oleh Simone Perrotta, yang masuk sebagai pemain pengganti, pada injury time babak kedua. Skor akhir 3-0 untuk Roma.

Totti Dapatkan Bola Perak

AS Roma membuat ‘kejutan’ di awal musim kompetisi 2008/09. Bersama AC Milan, mereka menjadi tim favorit juara yang mencatat rekor buruk di dua laga awal Serie A. Bahkan di kancah Liga Champions, Giallorossi ditundukkan dengan skor 1-2 oleh tim “antah berantah, CFR Cluj.Masalah Roma belum selesai sampai di situ. Cederanya beberapa pemain pilar jelas menggerogoti kekuatan pasukan Luciano Spalletti. Terakhir salah satu pemain kunci di lini tengah, David Pizarro yang dihantam cedera.

Namun sedikit sinar terang menghampiri kubu Roma. Kapten mereka, Francesco Totti, akan dianugerahi penghargaan bola perak. Bola Perak adalah penghargaan yang diberikan untuk “pemain yang paling baik dan bertalenta sepakbola tinggi, mendukung kebenaran, bermoral bagus dan bersikap baik setiap pekan”. Penghargaan tersebut rencananya akan diserahkan pada Totti, sebelum pertandingan Roma kontra Reggina akhir pekan ini. Totti sendiri akan menjadi pemain Roma kedua yang menerima penghargaan tersebut setelah Damiano Tomassi.

Penghargaan ini senantiasa didapat oleh nama-nama besar di lapangan hijau. Paolo Negro pernah mendapatkannya saat masih berkostum Lazio. Kemudian Javier Zanetti untuk Inter Milan, bek Juventus Ciro Ferrara, dan bomber AC Milan yang telah kembali dari Chelsea, Andriy Shevchenko. Manajer anyar West Ham United, Gianfranco Zola pernah meraihnya di tahun 2003 saat masih berseragam Cagliari. Kemudian striker yang kini memperkuat Bayern Muenchen, Luca Toni mendapatkannya saat masih membela Fiorentina. Satu nama tenar lain peraih Bola Perak adalah Kaka saat ia mempersembahkan permainan menawan di musim 2006/07.

Kubu Roma tentunya berharap penghargaan ini dapat menjadi titik balik kebangkitan mereka. Il Principe pun pasti sangat berharap dirinya dapat kembali merumput dan memimpin rekan-rekannya untuk menekuk Amaranto-julukan Reggina-untuk meraih poin maksimal di kandang sendiri

Match Day 1 LC: AS Roma 1-2 CFR Cluj

LINE-UPS

AS Roma (4-2-3-1): Doni – Cicinho, Cassetti, Panucci (Loria 47’), Riise (Totti 52’) – Aquilani, De Rossi – Taddei (Montella 77’), Baptista, Tonetto – Vucinic

Unused subs: Artur, Menez, Brighi, Okaka Chuka

CFR Cluj (4-4-2): Stancioiú – Tony, Cadú, De Sousa, Alvaro Pereira – Trica (Peralta 66’), Dani, Muresan, Juan Culio – Koné, Dubarbier (Panin 88’)

Unused subs: Nuno Claro, Alcantara, Deac, Didi, Diego Ruiz

GOALS

1-0: AS Roma (Panucci 17’)
1-1: CFR Cluj (Culio 27’)
1-2: CFR Cluj (Culio 49’)

BOOKINGS

AS Roma: Cicinho (84’)
CFR Cluj: Pereira (8’), Peralta (90’+2)

MATCH STATS
Possession: AS Roma 56% – CFR Cluj 44%
Shots (On Target): AS Roma 16 (4) – CFR Cluj 16 (9)
Fouls Committed: AS Roma 8 – CFR Cluj 16

2 kali kalah dalam satu pekan, tandang dan kandang, di kompetisi yang berbeda, unggul lebih dulu dalam tiga pertandingan terakhri tetapi lawan mampu menyamakan kedudukan bahkan membalikkan keadaan, dan hanya mencetak tiga gol dari tiga pertandingan dan kebobolan 6 gol dalam tiga laga terakhir yang dijalani.

Fakta diatas menjadi awalan yang buruk Roma di musim kompetisi 2008-2009. Keklahan terakhir di liga Champions melawan Cluj menunjukkan tim ini sedang dalam masalah, butuh pembenahan disana sini, bahkan sehari setelah kekalahan para tifosi Roma protes dengan cara menghalangi Spalletti masuk kedalam Trigoria untuk berlatih. Hal ini menimbulkan suasana tidak mengenakkan didalam tim.

Roma harus segera bangkit pada laga selanjutnya melawan Reggina, jika mereka tidak ingin tertinggal dari perburuan Scudetto.

FORZA ROMA

Palermo Stun Roma In Four Goal Thriller
Palermo 3-1 RomaA Fabrizio Miccoli brace and an Edison Cavani strike saw the Sicilian's mount an excellent comeback after going a goal down to Julio Baptista's early opener.

Palermo started slowly but then they turned up the heat as they ran out comfortable winners over a Roma side who seemed to have their minds elsewhere. Stunning goals and nonstop action were the order of the day and Davide Ballardini's arrival seems to have set the Sicilians on their way. The Rosanero impressed their new boss in style and picked up some much needed points.
Roma coach Luciano Spalletti started with Julio Baptista up front, preferring to keep Mirko Vucinic on the bench, perhaps with the Champions League against Cluj next week in mind. Palermo came into the game eager to impress new boss Davide Ballardini and the pressure was on to perform.

First Half

The game got off to a frantic start as both teams tried to take an early lead. Cicinho was doing all the early running for the Giallorossi down on the flank. The Brazilian’s crossing however was not up to scratch as he fluffed consecutive passing during the first few minutes.

Marco Amelia was in for a busy afternoon in the Palermo goal as a rampant Roma side showed no signs of letting up. The Italian number two had to make a smart save from a Cicinho drive as Roma kept on edging closer to goal. Maurizio Zamparini must have been nervous early on and his new coach Ballardini even more so as the away team took the game by the scruff of the neck.
John Arne Riise won a free kick and Julio Baptista stepped up. The former Real Madrid hit-man smashed his fierce shot towards goal and, once again, it was Amelia who stopper the ball from hitting the back of the net as his arm appeared from nowhere to tip the ball onto the post.

Alberto Aquilani followed up with a superb effort but Amelia saved. The Giallorossi didn’t have to wait long for the opener however and it was Baptista who gave his side the lead. Alberto Aquilani fed Okaka who touched the ball on for the Brazilian who finished off from close range.
Antonio Nocerino thought he had levelled but his goal was disallowed for offside after Simplicio put him through. Roma’s lead lasted 12 minutes as Fabrizio Miccoli fired his team level with a trademark strike. The pint-sized striker hit a sublime effort from the edge of the box and into the top-corner, leaving Doni with no chance.

The goal was of the highest class and it was just what the game needed. The Rosanero sprang into life as Ballardini continued to scream instructions from the bench. Simplicio should have doubled the lead when he was clean through on goal but the Brazilan was thwarted by Doni, who injured his hand in the process, but he was able to continue.
Daniele De Rossi’s game ended early however as he came off with a neck problem and was replaced by Matteo Brighi.

Second Half

The second period seemed to have lost its rhythm slightly as both teams began cautiously. Baptista was once again on the hunt and he took advantage from Balzaretti’s mistake but the Brazilian couldn’t beat Amelia in goal. Palermo began to raise their game and it was Miccoli who popped up with his second 11 minutes into the second half with another well taken goal.
Simplicio won possession and he released the striker who ran in on goal and beat Doni with a razor sharp diagonal strike.The Sicilians were playing some superb football and they kept coming forward as they tried to further their advantage.
The goal prompted Luciano Spalletti into action as he threw on Jeremy Menez in place of Rodrigo Taddei to give the Giallorossi more weight up front. Davide Ballardini reacted and he introduced Davide Lannzafame to the fray in place of Miccoli as he tried to defend the team’s lead. Roma began coming forwards as Palermo stepped off the gas.
Riise and Aquilani both had some superb efforts but it was Amelia who rescued his side with consecutive saves. The Sicilian’s changed strategy and they sat back to soak up the pressure and hit their opponents on the break.

The change in tactics worked as Simplicio fed Cavani through with a perfect through ball. The striker stayed on-side, rounded Doni and slid the ball home as his sent went on the rampage. It was turning out to be a real nightmare for Roma as they just didn’t have a reply.
The home side were outstanding and the crowd was going wild every time their team came forward. Roma tried to reply but the team seemed down and out following the third goal. Montella came on for Okaka who hadn’t done much but he wasn’t really able to produce any magic as the clock ticked on.

Teams
Palermo 4-3-1-2: Amelia; Cassani, Carozzieri, Bovo, Balzaretti; Bresciano, Liverani(Guana), Nocerino, Simplico; Cavani, Miccoli(Lanzafame). Subs: Fontana, Raggi, Dellafiore, Tedesco, Guana, Lanzafame, Succi.

Roma 4-2-3-1: Doni; Cicinho, Panucci, Loria, Riise; De Rossi(Brighi), Pizzaro, Taddei(Menez), Aqulani, Okaka(Montella); Baptista. Subs: Arthur, Cassetti, Brighi, Menez, Vucinic, Tonetto, Montella.
Goals: Baptista(Roma), Miccoli x 2(Palermo), Cavani(Palermo).
Cards:Taddei(Yellow/Roma), Bresciano(Yellow/Palermo)
Referee: Saccani

Player Ratings: Palermo 3-1 Roma

Roma

Doni- 6.5: The Brazilian was let down by his defence on a number of occasions and he couldn’t do much about the goals either. Made a few decent saves however to prevent his side from being embarrassed further.

Cicinho- 5.5: The Brazilian kept on coming forwards but it back fired as the Rosanero took full advantage on the counter attack. Was a little greedy too by choosing to shoot rather than pass.

Panucci- 5.0: Panucci drifted in and out of the game and at times he looked a little lost at the back. He didn’t seem interested in the match and he should have done better.

Loria- 4.5: The stopper failed to live up to expectation on the night. He kept on giving the ball away and he looked out of place. Not a good performance at all.

Riise- 5.5: The former Liverpool man moved the ball around well and he had a few strikes from distance. His wing play was what you expect from him but he didn’t do anything to wow the crowd.

De Rossi- N/A: The Italian had to come off in the first half after injuring his neck. Up to that point his game was decent but nothing too special to make him stand out.

Pizzaro- 5.0: The midfielder was hardly involved in the match. He kept on going AWOL and he didn’t do much to help his side out when they were on the back foot.

Taddei- 5.5: Taddei had a quiet game. He did well in the first half with some excellent runs and passing but he let his game slip in the second period. Not one of his better performances at all.

Aquilani- 6.0: His mind seemed on the hype surrounding his new contract as he drifted in and out of the game but he was always on hand to fight. He never gave up until the end and he supported his colleagues well. Distribution was good.

Okaka- 4.5: The only good thing the striker did was touch the ball on for Baptista’s goal. Apart from that he hardly made an impact in the game. He was substituted by Montella late on.

Baptista-5.5: The Beast scored a well taken goal and he showed his prowess in the first half but then his head dropped and he didn’t offer much attacking threat up front. He decided to stay trapped high up the pitch rather than come back and help out.

Subs: Menez 5.0, Montella 5.5, Brighi 5.5