Modena inflict second shock defeat on Roma
Simon Evans
AS Roma suffered their second straight defeat of the Serie A season as newly promoted Modena enjoyed a 2-1 win after Roma had defender Christian Panucci sent off just before the break.
Roma, who lost at Bologna on the opening day of the season, had not lost at home for more than two seasons. They took the lead in the fifth minute through a Francesco Totti spot-kick before a controversial Omar Milanetto penalty and then a Giuseppe Sculli strike in the 77th minute gave Modena victory.
Inter Milan needed a dramatic injury-time goal from Uruguayan striker Alvaro Recoba to give them a 2-1 win at promoted Reggina.
AC Milan and Juventus both won their games on Saturday to maintain 100 percent records matched only by Piacenza and Inter.
The pressure was on Roma after the Bologna loss and the 3-0 midweek defeat by Real Madrid in the Champions League but Fabio Capello was boosted by the return of Totti from injury.
The Italy international put Roma ahead, driving home a penalty after he had been brought down by Modena defender Mauro Meyer.
But the game turned two minutes before the break when Emerson was harshly judged to have barged Sculli and referee Stefano Farina awarded a penalty.
Roma's Panucci was sent off for his protests and Milanetto pulled the visitors level with the spot kick.
Despite being down to 10 men, Roma continued to look for a winner in the second half but were stunned when Sculli latched on to a long ball forward, burst into the area and slipped the ball past Roma keeper Francesco Antonioli.
Modena keeper Marco Ballotta pulled off a superb save to foil Emerson and then in injury time Totti missed a great chance to equalise when he shot straight at Ballotta from point-blank range.
PERFECT START
Inter got the perfect start in Reggio Calabria when Christian Vieri grabbed his second goal of the campaign with a well-struck volley from a long cross-field ball from Marco Materazzi.
Although they rarely sparkled, Inter appeared to be well in control of the match until, with 90 minutes showing on the clock, defender Fabio Cannavaro was judged to have brought down Reggina forward Massimo Rastelli and Japanese international Shunsuke Nakamura converted the spot kick.
Inter, who handed the title to Juventus last season with a disastrous final-day defeat to Lazio, looked to have pressed the self-destruct button once again but on this occasion they swiftly bounced back.
Substitute Hernan Crespo cut in from the right flank and slipped the ball to Recoba, who made just enough room for a low shot that zipped past Reggina keeper Luca Castellazzi.
Lazio recovered from their opening-day defeat to Chievo to pick up a hard-earned, but late, win at battling Torino -- Diego Simeone breaking free of his marker to head home a Sinisa Mihajlovic corner four minutes from the end.
Chievo lost only three times at their Bentegodi stadium last season but were beaten in their first home game of the season by a determined Brescia, inspired by former European Player of the Year Roberto Baggio.
Albanian Igli Tare put Brescia in front, heading home a free kick from Baggio before Federico Cossato equalised, taking advantage of an error from Brescia's Czech keeper Pavel Srnicek.
Three minutes from the end Baggio picked out Anthony Seric, who fired a low shot under the body of Chievo keeper Cristiano Lupatelli.
Piacenza's veteran striker Dario Hubner, joint top scorer last season, was on target for the second successive week and set his side on the way to an impressive 2-0 win over Udinese. Former Juventus midfielder Enzo Maresca added the second.
