Roma 3 - 1 Chelsea: Chelsea humiliated by rampant Roma

Published on Wednesday 5 November 2008 00:47

Roma 3 Panucci (34), Vucinic (48, 58) Chelsea 1 Terry (75)

TWO costly errors by John Mikel Obi sent ten-man Chelsea crashing to a shock defeat to Serie A strugglers Roma.

The hosts stormed into a three-goal lead inside 58 minutes thanks to Christian Panucci and two goals from Mirko Vucinic.

Chelsea reduced the deficit through captain John Terry in the 75th minute but it was not enough to save them from a humiliating defeat, their worst in Europe since their 5-1 extra-time thrashing by Barcelona in 2000.

Their miserable night ended in more woe as Deco was dismissed for a second bookable offence in the 80th minute.

Roma had posed little threat to the visitors but, against the run of play,

former Blue Panucci reacted first to sweep a cross into the net in the 33rd minute.

Vucinic put Roma two in front three minutes after the re-start, sending a rising 25-yard drive into the net beyond Petr Cech.

Roma added a third in the 58th minute when Mikel lost the ball to Vucinic, who ran the length of the Chelsea half, beat Mikel again, and fired home past Cech.

Roma: Doni, Cicinho, Mexes, Juan, Panucci, Perrotta, De Rossi, Brighi, Pizarro, Totti, Vucinic. Subs: Artur, Taddei, Loria, Riise, Julio Baptista, Tonetto, Menez.

Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Terry, Alex, Bridge, Deco, Mikel, Lampard, Joe Cole, Anelka, Malouda. Subs: Cudicini, Ivanovic, Di Santo, Drogba, Ferreira, Kalou, Belletti.

Referee: L Cantalejo (Spain)