AS Roma set halfway points record

Juventus thrashed serie a newcomer siena 4-2 with a hat-trick by Alessandro del Piero while European champion AC Milan needed a late goal by defender Giuseppe Pancaro to overcome Roberto Baggio’s Brescia 1-0. At Turin, two of Del Piero’s goals, during a heavy snowfall which forced players to use a red ball, came on penalty kicks. French striker David Trezeguet netted the fourth goal of the defending league champions with a flying foot deflection which improved his season record to nine goals.

At Brescia, Pancaro headed in the winner off a corner-kick in the 80th in an otherwise unimpressive performance of the Milan team.

Milan, which suffered the steady midfield pressure and tight defense of Brescia, had a few scoring chances, the best one shortly after Pancaro’s goal. Brazilian star Kaka hit the crossbar with a nice lob. Milan, with one match in hand, was in a better position than Juventus and could eventually tie Roma at the top when it plays Siena in a makeup match on January 28.

Roma was off to a bad start at Stadio Olimpico, under chilly, battering rain, as striker Fabio Bazzani put La Samp in front with a quick goal in the fifth minute.

Bazzani controlled a long pass from Francesco Flachi, beat two Roma defenders and kicked in from eight yards.

Norwegian striker John Carew headed in Roma’s equaliser five minutes later off a cross from Antonio Cassano, and Totti, the idol of Roman fans, scored twice within seven minutes in the second half to seal the home team’s triumph.

Totti made it 2-1 in the 60th with a diving header and scored again in the 67th, curling a slow kick past goalkeeper Francesco Antonioli.

Totti, who is expected to be Italy’s mastermind at the 2004 European championship in Portugal, threw kisses to the fans as he ran around the field to celebrate.

The 42-point mark at the halfway tape was unprecedented in Italian soccer history since three points per win took effect in the early 1990s.