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 Baggio8217;s Brescia 1-0. At Turin, two of Del Piero8217;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 Pancaro8217;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 Roma8217;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 team8217;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 Italy8217;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.