Video: Totti lifts Roma in five-goal thriller

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Francesco Totti celebrated his return to action with a goal as Roma edged out Udinese 3-2 in a scintillating Serie A encounter.

Francesco Totti returned for Roma after a month a made an immediate impact as the Giallorossi secured a hard-fought win over Udinese.

Roma’s title chances look extremely slim but they did manage to reduce Juventus’ lead at the top of Serie A from 17 points to 14.

Talismanic captain Totti was back having shaken off a thigh problem and the players and many fans wore orange shirts dedicated to midfielder Kevin Strootman whose cruciate injury has ruled him out of the rest of the season and the World Cup.

It was Totti who opened the scoring after 22 minutes, following up when Simone Scuffet saved from ex-Arsenal man Gervinho to hit the net.

When Mattia Destro made it 2-0 eight minutes later it looked like a comfortable evening for the Eternal City side.

However, Udinese reduced the deficit after the break when Gianpiero Pinzi shot into the corner for only the third home goal Roma have conceded in Serie A this season.

Vasilis Torosidis netted a beauty to restore Roma’s two-goal advantage when he blasted home from 25 yards out.

But Udinese managed to make Roma sweat by pulling one back through Dusan Basta with 10 minutes remaining as he converted a rebound from six yards.

Roma held on though for a much-needed win and cemented their grip on second place while preventing Juventus further extending their commanding lead.

Watch the goals from Roma’s 3-2 win: