Angulo and Villa give Valencia win

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VALENCIA, Spain -- Valencia took charge of Champions League Group D on Wednesday after a 2-1 victory over Roma in a high-quality match at the Mestalla.

Midfielder Miguel Angel Angulo gave the Primera Liga side an early lead in a breathless first half but Roma were level five minutes later when Francesco Totti netted from the penalty spot.

In-form striker David Villa earned the home side a deserved win when he steered a pinpoint shot past Roma goalkeeper Doni just before the half hour.

The win sent Valencia top of the group with six points from two games with Roma following on three.

Both teams chalked up emphatic wins in their opening matches -- Roma trouncing Shakhtar Donetsk 4-0 at home and Valencia beating Olympiakos 4-2 away -- and made a positive start on Wednesday.

Valencia defender Roberto Ayala almost put his side in front with a header after the opening attack before Roma midfielders Marco Cassetti and Simone Perrotta went close. But just as Roma appeared to be getting the upper hand, Valencia took the lead through Angulo.

The midfielder cracked the ball into the net on the run after striker Villa cut the ball back into his path after a deep cross into the area in the 13th minute.

Roma equalised soon after when Totti, celebrating his 30th birthday, sent Santiago Canizares the wrong way from the penalty spot after Valencia's Italian fullback Emiliano Moretti rugby tackled Cassetti when the ball escaped his control.

Moretti atoned for his error just before the half hour when he surged down the left, shrugged off two challenges and squared the ball to Villa who steered a well struck shot beyond the reach of keeper Doni and inside the post.

There was no let up in the action and Roma would have equalised less than a minute later had Canizares not made a superb reaction save to divert Totti's fierce drive over the bar.

Villa almost added a third on the stroke of halftime when he turned away from centre back Marco Ferrari on the edge of the area, but his shot drifted just wide of the post.

It was all Valencia after the break but a combination of sharp keeping by Doni, last-ditch defending from the Roma back four and wayward finishing meant they were unable to extend their lead.

Shakhtar fight back

Meanwhile, Shakhtar Donetsk twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with Olympiakos Piraeus in the match as the Greek side extended their dismal away record.

Olympiakos opened the scoring when Nery Castillo evaded three Ukrainian players and fed the ball through for striker Michalis Konstantinou to fire home from close range in the 24th minute.

Shakhtar levelled nine minutes later through Brazilian midfielder Matuzalem but were behind again in the 68th minute when Castillo found the target.

Two minutes later, Romanian striker Ciprian Marica fired the second equaliser for the hosts. Shakhtar dominated from then on but could not snatch the winner against a team who have failed to muster a win in 28 Champions League away games.

Both sides lost their opening games two weeks ago and already look up against it in the race to qualify.

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