Media: Totti rescues late point for Roma

It was a tremendous watch for the neutrals at Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia as Atalanta came back from a two-goal deficit to lead, before a late strike from Francesco Totti secured a 3-3 draw for Roma.

With relations between the club, coach Luciano Spalletti and the captain growing ever more tense and the playmaker’s future far from certain, it was the veteran who came off the bench to become the hero of the day.

The return of Spalletti to the Stadio Olimpico has not made things any easier for Totti in terms of him getting more playing time, but on this occasion the Lupi boss needed a spark and it was Totti who provided it just at the death to salvage a point.

With the Roman outfit still holding on to the hope of securing second place in the Serie A table, three points was an absolute necessity, but goals from Marco D’Alessandro and Marco Borriello almost looked to spoil their plans until Totti showed up.

A whirlwind first half saw chances-a-plenty, with both sides grabbing two goals a piece in a crazy 15-minute period.

Lucas Digne kicked off proceedings, combining well with Diego Perotti to manufacture a yard of space in the box and tuck the ball past Marco Sportiello with 23 minutes played.

The Lupi doubled their lead moments later, with Mohamed Salah leading a swift counterattack and pulling the ball back to Radja Nainggolan on the edge of the box, with the Belgian international making no mistake with the finish.

La Dea were not willing to roll over however, with D’Alessandro bringing one back on the 33rd minute mark, poking home a low cross to give his side a route back into the game.

It was ex-Giallorossi striker Borriello’s turn next, as he headed home a corner to bring Edy Reja’s side back level.

The goalfest should not have ended there however, with Edin Dzeko wasting a guilt-edged chance before the break, skying the ball over the bar from close range, before forcing a excellent save from Sportiello just moments later.

La Dea’s comeback was completed shortly after the return from the dressing rooms, with Borriello connecting with an Alejandro Gomez cross to put his side ahead to the dismay of the visitors.

With less than a quarter of an hour to go, Spalletti turned to club Captain Totti, with the veteran coming to his side’s rescue with an 85th minute strike to bring the game level once more.

Despite a manic last five minutes, neither side could grab the winner and the Lupi will no doubt be ruing a missed opportunity to gain some ground on Napoli.

This article originally appeared on Gazzetta World.