"A super Candela sinks Venezia"
Roma, Olympic Stadium - February 6th, 2000 - Day 20
Roma - Venezia 5 - 0
9' Candela - 13' Delvecchio - 41' Montella - 61' Delvecchio - 79' N'Gotty (og)
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It was a chance too good to be missed. The domestic match against Venezia should have allow Roma to keep on running toward the top of the standings getting closer to Juventus that tied against Udinese the away match playes last Saturday. Capello's boys didn't waste the chance and played the match as they were faced to first team of the championship. Venezia shot toward the goal only twice in the whole match, the first one at the beginning when Maniero headed wide a cross from the midfield and after that when Roma was leading 2-0, Berg all alone in the pen box sent close to the post a right footed volley.
Roma went ahead when only nine minutes was passed, Totti touched for Candela who fired a stunning shot from over 30 metres just under the crossbar beating a diving Konsel. Bruno N'Gotty, the new Venezia's defender hired by Milan was good at anticipating Montella and Delvecchio but his match turned very bad in the 13th minute when he missed to clear a Totti's through ball for Delvecchio who gained the possession and beat Konsel with a precise lower shot. Every match has its own hero and the one for this one was without any doubt the defender Vincent Candela, that after the beautiful goal who paved the way to the victory granted another jewel in the 41st minute. The French with an individual move dribbled three defenders reached the pen box, played a fast one-two with Montella then dribbled the goalkeeper Konsel and supplied once again an easy ball to Montella who scored the third Roma's goal with a touch in the empty net.
In the second half the Mr.Capello replaced Montella with Poggi, the fans disagreed but the coach was rewarded after few minutes. Poggi gained a ball in the midifield and played an one-two with Totti in the crowded opponent' pen box then touched the ball behind for Delvecchio who scored his own second goal and made it 4-0. Capello replaced Totti with Tomic saving the captain for the next match against Perugia, but before the referee Mr.Lucini sent the team to take a shower Roma socred again. Candela stole the ball to Bettarini and served Poggi in the middle of the pen box, N'Gotty trying to anticipate the forwarder touched the ball with the heel deflecting it in his own goal. Roma also claimed for a clear penalty after that Cardone dragged down Delvecchio inside the pen box but the referee avoided Venezia a defeat even heavier.
