A Mirko Vucinic brace inspired Roma to a superb 3-1 victory over 10-man Chelsea in the Champions League Group A clash at the Stadio Olimpico.The Romans, fourth from bottom in Serie A, were too strong for the Premier League leaders, for whom John Terry's late goal was nothing more than a consolation after Christian Panucci's strike before the break and Vucinic's second-half double.
Chelsea also saw Deco dismissed late on, perhaps harshly, after the Portuguese was shown two yellow cards.
The Blues had much the better of the possession in the opening half-hour but failed to test Doni with anything other than efforts from long range. The Brazilian keeper twice denied Frank Lampard from distance after he had turned away a Deco drive from outside the box as Chelsea made all the early running.
The hosts however grabbed the lead, against the run of play, in the 34th minute. Cicinho escaped the attentions of the Chelsea defence as Francesco Totti lined up a long-range free-kick, and the right-back's low cross was turned home by Panucci as the Chelsea defence stood and watched. The former Blues defender's strike was the first Chelsea have conceded in this season's Champions League campaign and it seemed to settle the hosts down.
Florent Malouda blasted high and wide of the target five minutes later when he was sent clear down the inside-left channel by John Obi Mikel's fine pass, and that was the French wideman's final contribution as he was withdrawn at half time, along with Joe Cole, to make way for Didier Drogba and Juliano Beletti.
Despite the decisive substitutions, things got worse for Blues boss Luiz Filipe Scolari when Roma doubled their lead only three minutes after the break. Matteo Brighi laid the ball off the Mirko Vucinic to unleash a superb 20-yard drive which flew past Cech and into the corner of the Blues net.
If the second goal was good, Roma's third 10 minutes later was even better, and it was Vucinic again. The Montenegrin striker robbed Mikel in the host's half and carried the ball fully 50-yards, outpacing and riding the tackle of the Nigerian before fooling Cech to slide the ball coolly inside the near post.
Chelsea looked ragged but Terry gave his side a lifeline, somewhat controversially, with 15 minutes remaining. Deco's shot was directed goalwards seemingly off the arm of the England skipper and despite Doni's point-blank block, Terry sidefooted home the rebound.
Deco, cautioned in the first half, was lucky to avoid a second booking when he up-ended Totti early in the second period. But his luck ran out in the 81st-minute when referee Luis Medina Cantalejo brandished a yellow card, followed by a red, when the Portuguese took a free-kick too quickly for the official's liking.
Despite the result, Chelsea remain top of Group A with seven points, one ahead of Roma and Bordeaux, with the French side due to arrive at Stamford Bridge in three weeks time.
Chelsea coach Luiz Felipe Scolari was left to rue an under-par performance from his side.
Scolari felt his side made too many errors to merit taking anything away from their trip to the Italian capital.
"We didn't play well," Scolari admitted after goals from Christian Panucci and two from Mirko Vucinic gave the Italians a deserved victory.
"We made mistakes at critical times. We allowed Roma chances and individual mistakes cost us dearly."
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