Two two-goal outbursts, both inside of two minutes, highlight Box Scores' game of the week, a Serie A matchup featuring moribund Catania and heavyweight Roma in FIFA 11.
Kotaku reader tfcrocky took Catania, currently 12th on his Serie A table, against first-place Roma, expecting no points from the result. Add to that he was on legendary difficulty with full manual control, and this is going to be a tall order for sure.
But the surprising Rossazzurri attack sprinted out to a 2-nil lead, picking up goals at the 36th and 38th minute, stunning the Serie A leaders. Izco popped in the first score, and then Lopez collected a sloppy pass and finished the strike himself from about 13 yards away.
Roma begin the fightback after the intermission, with a score from Mirko Vucinic at the 51st minute to draw to 2-1. Then, at the 70th minute, Roma substitute Francesco Totti silences the Catania partisans with spectacular bicycle kick for the equalizer.
Though originally happy just to get one point and the draw, dread now cloaks the Catania side and their fans. tfcrocky does not give up. He substitutes his two attacking midfielders for fresh substitutes Giuseppe Mascara and Pablo Barrietos. With time running out, Mascara peels away with a loose ball and feeds Lopez for his second score at the 88th minute, and a 3-2 lead.
Roma get desperate and send off a long goal kick to to avail; Catania begin the counterattack; tfcrocky notices Mascara making a run and threads in a chip-pass from Lopez, which Mascara just barely runs onto to slot home for the coup de grace in a 4-2 final.
Here's the Box Score!
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Now the Kotaku Sports open thread commences with the sports TV highlights for today and tomorrow. All times are U.S. Eastern.
- Shitty Bowl Games
Kicking off right now is BYU vs UTEP in the New Mexico Bowl; Northern Illinois and Fresno State rumble on the Smurf Turf in the Humanitarian Bowl at 5:30; at 9 is the New Orleans Bowl featuring Ohio and Troy. All are on ESPN. Aren't you glad you have the tradition of the bowls instead of a playoff? - NFL
Big games tomorrow: Philadelphia and the Giants, both 9-4, lock horns for first place in the NFC East at 1 p.m. on Fox. Jacksonville and Indianapolis have the other first-place battle, for the AFC South, 1 p.m. on CBS. Because I lost to Omnimon in Madden NFL 11 last night, I'm obligated to mention that his Lions face Tampa Bay at 1 p.m., also on Fox. Green Bay travels to New England, likely without quarterback Aaron Rodgers, for the Sunday night game, 8:20 on NBC. And then Monday Night, you've already heard about it, Chicago and Minnesota play outdoors, in single-digit temperatures, at a college arena with every ticket first-come first-served, with no beer sales. People said the roof tear at the Metrodome was divine intervention to give Brett Favre time to heal. I think it was editorial commentary from the Almighty on the absolute disaster of a season this franchise created by indulging him well past his expiration date. - College Hoops
CBS has Stanford at Butler or South Carolina at No. 2 Ohio State, tipping off right now. Florida faces No. 6 Kansas State on Fox Sports Net at 3:30. Texas and North Carolina battle for the title of Public School With The Most Walmart Alumni at 4 on CBS. Tomorrow, Fox Sports Net heads to Raleigh as State hosts Arizona, 4:30 p.m. For those thinking I'm saying actual UT or UNC graduates go to work at Walmart, I'm not. A Walmart alumnus is someone whose association with the school is limited to the T-shirt he purchased there. - NHL
Your CBC matchups: Toronto at Vancouver at 7 p.m.; Minnesota visits Calgary at 10 p.m.
- Boxing
Jean Pascal and Bernard Hopkins duel for the WBC light heavyweight title in Quebec City at 10 p.m., Showtime.
Remember, you may send Game of the Week nominations to owenATkotakuDOTcom, and flag it "Box Scores" in the subject header. Please include your commenter handle for proper credit.