Newz Forum: SOCCER: Italian Serie A results 19/12/04

Francesco Totti became Roma's all-time leading scorer on Sunday as the Giallorossi destroyed strugglers Parma 5-1.

Totti and Antonio Cassano grabbed two goals apiece with Vincenzo Montella completing a fantastic day for the Romans. The visitors netted a consolation strike from Cesare Bovo although the second-half sending off of Antonio Pisanu rubbed salt in the wound. After Cassano opened the scoring, Totti struck in the 28th minute for his 107th goal, establishing a new club record. The captain immediately pulled off his top to reveal a white t-shirt with a message for the fans - "107 just for you".


Juventus lead Serie A by four points from defending champions AC Milan going into the Christmas break after a goalless draw in the match between the clubs lying first and second. Milan dominated the first half with their newly-crowned European footballer of the year Andriy Shevchenko going closest when he hit the post. The second period was a more even affair, however, although in the last minute Andrea Pirlo missed a glorious chance to snatch the points for the Rossoneri after more good work from the Ukrainian talisman. The match at the Stadio Delle Alpi had plenty of incident but neither side was able to find the goal that could have seen the title race take a different turn in what already looks to be a two-horse race for the Scudetto.


Elsewhere the game between Messina and Atalanta has been abandoned midway through the first half because of heavy rain. The match had got underway at the Stadio Giovanni Celeste despite the pitch being covered in puddles and Messina took a 10th-minute lead through an Arturo Di Napoli penalty. The spot-kick had been awarded for an innocuous-looking challenge by Atalanta's Damiano Zenoni on Massimo Donati who had his back to goal. Di Napoli sent Massimo Taibi the wrong way from the penalty spot. However, the conditions worsened during the opening period and referee Emidio Morganti and the players sought the sanctuary of the dressing rooms after 23 minutes.

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