CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - VALENCIA 0 - 3 ROMA: Francesco Totti produced a virtuoso display to lead AS Roma to a remarkable win away last night to resurrect the Italian side's Champions League hopes.
Roma were without a point going into the clash, but two goals and an assist from Totti handed the Spanish champions their first home defeat in three Champions League campaigns and left everything still to play for in Group B.
The inspirational Italian headed in the first goal from a Vincent Candela corner on 25 minutes, and five minutes later the captain swept in right-footed for the second.
Totti was also instrumental in the third, slipping a pass for Emerson to convert on 36 minutes, and although Valencia improved after the break the Roma defence remained solid and a comeback never looked likely.
Valencia, beaten finalists in their first two Champions League appearances in 2000 and 2001, are still reasonably placed with two games still to play.
Arsenal and Ajax Amsterdam each have six points, with Valencia third on five and Roma now off the mark with three.
Valencia attacked with their usual venom at the start of the game and John Carew, the Norwegian striker who had squeezed in a near-post shot to settle last week's match in Italy, tried his luck with a cross-shot from wide on the left after two minutes.
Valencia coach Rafa Benitez had opted not to risk his Argentine playmaker Pablo Aimar in the starting line-up and after their initial flurry the home side began to look a little clueless against the astute Roma defence.
Totti had been an anonymous figure, with Antonio Cassano the only Roma player pushing forward, but the game changed on 25 minutes when Totti slipped his marker to convert Candela's corner from close range.
Valencia, usually so secure on set-pieces, were shocked and they were immediately back on to the attack.
Their eagerness to find an equaliser cost them a second goal, however, as Roma struck on the break.
Cafu was the provider this time, the Brazilian squaring the ball for Totti to provide a precise right-foot finish from around the penalty spot.
Valencia pressed forward once again and saw their eighth corner of the game cleared by the rock-solid Roma defence before, incredibly, the Italians struck their third, still with only 36 minutes on the stopwatch.
Totti once again did the damage, slipping clear down the right and providing a perfectly weighted pass for Emerson, who calmly slid a shot under the body of Santiago Canizares.
Juan Sanchez was put clean through on goal at the start of the second half but Francesco Antonioli saved with his feet.
VALENCIA: Canizares, Reveillere, Pellegrino (Carboni 77), Ayala, Aurelio, Albelda, Baraja, Vicente (Gonzalez 52), Rufete (Aimar 64), Carew, Sanchez. Subs Not Used: Palop, Djukic, Marchena, De los Santos. Booked: Rufete.
ROMA: Antonioli, Cafu, Zebina (Cufre 63), Aldair, Samuel, Candela, Lima , Emerson, Tommasi, Totti (Fuser 87), Cassano (Guigou 90). Subs Not Used: Zotti, Sartor, De Rossi, Ferronetti. Booked: Zebina, Samuel. Goals: Totti 24, 30, Emerson 36.
Referee: F De Bleeckere (Belgium).
