Veteran striker Francesco Totti bagged a first-half brace as Roma ran out 4-2 winners against Fiorentina in a thrilling Serie A contest.
The visitors almost took an early lead when Manuel Pasqual tested Mauro Goicoechea in the Roma goal, but they soon sound themselves behind.
Leandro Castan headed the hosts into the lead direct from a free kick with eight minutes on the clock, a lead that would last just six minutes.
Fiorentina's equaliser also came from a set piece. Gonzalo Rodriguez provided the cross and Facundo Roncaglia found the bottom corner from close range to make it 1-1.
The goal rush continued, with Totti firing Roma back in front in the 19th minute after latching on to a pass from Mattia Destro.
Roma looked odds on to increase their lead after the second goal went in, with a pair of chances falling to Totti and Miralem Pjanic denied by Bogdan Lobont just after the half-hour mark.
Vincenzo Montella's side had a few chances of there own as half time approached. Facundo Roncaglia tested Goicoechea on 34 minutes, but the visitors found themselves on the back foot again moments later.
The ever-impressive Totti fired the hosts further in front in fist-half stoppage time with a right-footed effort from outside the box after picking up Federico Balzaretti's pass.
Fiorentina were back in the contest moments after the restart. Borja Valero lofted the ball into the area and Mounir El Hamdaoui headed home to reduce the deficit.
American international Michael Bradley almost restored Roma's two-goal cushion ten minutes later when his close range strike was kept out of the bottom corner by Lobont.
Roma eventually got the goal that killed off the game, but they left it late. Pablo Osvaldo drilled one in from close range after being lined up by Totti for a final score of 4-2.
Mark Langshaw
