Roma 5-1 Cesena: Totti rewrites the record books as Luis Enrique's side romp to comprehensive triumph

Roma captain Francesco Totti made history by breaking Gunnar Nordahl’s 210-goal record with a single club, after striking twice in the opening minutes of the Giallorossi’s 5-1 win over Cesena at the Stadio Olimpico.

Totti scored his 211th goal in 486 league appearances for Roma, boasting a strike every 0.43 games, as Roma went three goals to the good within eight minutes of kickoff.

Daniele Arrigoni’s men endured a day to forget as they slumped to a heavy defeat, continuing what has been an appalling run of form of late – recording five defeats in their past six games.

Nothing could top Totti’s historical achievement, and the Seahorses were victims of their own demise following a woeful defensive display.

Totti broke his way into the record books by slotting home after just 30 seconds of the first half. 19-year-old winger Erik Lamela received the ball deep inside the Cesena box, classily backheeling for Totti, who struck a venomous shot past goalkeeper Antonioli.

The Giallorossi piled on the pressure, and to Cesena’s demise, Lamela broke free of his marker on the left wing, lobbing a beautifully coordinated ball into Totti’s path for the 35-year-old to make it four goals in 12 games.

Roma quickly made it three within a minute of Totti’s second, as Leandro Greco crossed a pin-point delivery into Fabio Borini’s path to slot home from short range.

Cesena watched on in awe as Roma enjoyed 75 per cent of the possession, had five shots on target and 10 throw-ins. The referee blew his whistle right on the 45 minute mark, ending a forgettable first half for the Seahorses.

Antonio Candreva surprisingly replaced Mutu for the second half, as the Romanian proved the only Cesena player to threaten to Roma’s rock-solid defence.

Former Barcelona striker Bojan came on for Lamela  on the 52nd-minute mark as coach Luis Enrique looked ahead to Roma’s cup clash against Juventus in midweek.

To Cesena’s credit, it pushed forward in the second half and collected a small consolation for a poor overall performance. Eder controlled a well-lofted pass over defender Juan’s head, lobbing the ball over Maarten Stekelenburg to pull one back.

However any possible comeback was short-lived, as Roma woke up and responded in the only way it could have, by securing its fourth goal. Juan was in the right place at the right time, pouncing on Antonioli’s blunder to drill in from less than a yard out.

Totti jogged off to the applause of the majority of the fans after 65 minutes, replaced by Federico Viviani as Roma looked to score again.

The fifth came from a fine Miralem Pjanic solo effort, thanks to an exasperated defensive attempt from Cesena’s back four. The Bosnia and Herzegovina international saw his first strike denied by Antonioli, yet his follow-up into the back of the net to wrap up a fantastic day for Luis Enrique’s side.

The win for the hosts edges them into the top five in Serie A, having played a game more than Inter, which faces Lazio on Sunday evening.

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