Goals from Alessandro Florenzi, Francesco Totti and Kevin
Strootman, from the penalty spot, moved Roma joint top of Italy's Serie A
thanks to a 3-1 win over Parma on Monday.
With three wins in as many games and level on goal
difference with Napoli, Roma sit just behind Rafael Benitez's leaders but two
points ahead of Inter, Fiorentina and champions Juventus following draws for
all three at the weekend.
Roma travelled north feeling confident having lost just
once to Parma in their last 14 league encounters, and with the carrot of moving
ahead of more authentic title contenders should they win.
However it was Parma who secured a halftime lead on 39
minutes after Jonathan Biabiany headed past Morgan De Sanctis in the Roma goal
from Mattia Cassani's delivery.
Roma levelled barely two minutes after the restart when
Miralem Pjanic sent a delightful chip into the path of Florenzi for the Italian
to beat Antonio Mirante with a well-struck first-time shot.
In the 70th minute Roma captain Totti was played onside
by a Parma defender on the other side of the field and promptly collected
Strootman's chip before sending Mirante the wrong way in the Parma goal.
Totti's first strike of the campaign caused jubilation
among the Roma camp and the visitors' joy was complete when Gervinho, who had
been largely mediocre on the night, won a penalty five minutes from the final
whistle.
It was the best contribution from what proved a
frustrating night for the former Arsenal forward, and Dutch midfielder
Strootman stepped up to beat Mirante on 85 minutes to seal a deserved 3-1 win
for Rudi Garcia's men.
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