Roma beat Sampdoria 4-2 to go second in Serie A

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AS Roma racked up their fifth win in a row to climb to second in Serie A when they won 4-2 at Sampdoria on Sunday. The result -- courtesy of two goals by captain Francesco Totti and one each for midfielder Simone Perrotta and defender Christian Panucci -- gave Roma 29 points, one point behind leaders Inter Milan. Inter take on third-placed Palermo (27 points) in a later match (kickoff 1930 GMT). Roma's city rivals Lazio also continued their good league form, making it three league wins in a row as Manuel Belleri, Goran Pandev and Pasquale Foggia scored to sink Ascoli 3-1. The Roma side that travelled north to Genoa resembled more the one that thrashed Catania 7-0 last weekend than the one that slithered to a 1-0 defeat in the Champions League against Shakhtar Donetsk midweek. Playmaker David Pizarro had already tested Sampdoria keeper Gianluca Berti with a swerving long-range effort before Daniele De Rossi sent Totti through alone on goal to score Roma's first goal after 13 minutes. A short clearance by defender Philippe Mexes allowed Sergio Volpi to equalise a minute later, but Perrotta restored Roma's lead shortly after the half-hour mark with a shot from the edge of the area. Panucci wrapped up a convincing first-half performance by the visitors just before the interval when he volleyed in Totti's cross from close-range. The second half was more evenly balanced, but Totti killed off any hopes Sampdoria might have entertained about fighting their way back into the match when he volleyed Marco Cassetti's crossfield ball precisely past Berti. Striker Francesco Flachi grabbed Sampdoria's second goal in stoppage time from the penalty spot after he was fouled by Cassetti. Elsewhere, Livorno hung on to fourth place with 20 points despite letting a two-goal lead slip to draw 2-2 with Reggina. Livorno seemed well in control against the southerners as Fabio Galante and Cristiano Lucarelli scored inside the opening half hour. Reggina, however, pulled level through strikers Rolando Bianchi and Julio Leon, and Livorno were left hanging on for a point after the late sending-off of midfielder Dario Passoni for a second bookable offence.