A Christian Panucci goal gave 10-man AS Roma a 2-1 home win over strugglers Empoli on Saturday, cutting Inter Milan's lead in Serie A to four points before the champions take on Juventus.
Max Tonetto gave Roma the lead and Sebastian Giovinco levelled for Empoli before Roma had Simone Perrotta sent off in the 57th minute. Panucci headed Roma's winner six minutes later.
Second-placed Roma have 64 points from 30 games, nine more than third-placed Juve.
Fiorentina consolidated fourth place, worth a slot in the Champions League qualifiers, by beating 10-man Lazio 1-0 at home thanks to Giampaolo Pazzini's second-half goal. Lazio's Massimo Mutarelli was red-carded in the 37th minute.
AC Milan remain four points behind the Florence side in fifth after Alexandre Pato gave them a 1-0 win at Torino.
In heavy rain at the Stadio Olimpico, full back Tonetto fired Roma ahead in the 36th minute after being set up by captain Francesco Totti's smart back-heel.
Empoli forward Giovinco was rewarded five minutes after the break for his good work in the first half, when he hit the post with the latter of three fine strikes.
However, Panucci headed the home side back in front shortly after Perrotta's sending-off for a tackle from behind on Felice Piccolo.
In Florence, the hosts pressed hard after Lazio midfielder Mutarelli went for two bookings in quick succession, although the Romans were dangerous on the counterattack.
Pazzini, who had hit the crossbar after a goalmouth scramble at the start of the second half, settled the game with a right-footed shot from the edge of the area 13 minutes from time.
European champions Milan came close with free kicks by Andrea Pirlo and Clarence Seedorf in the first half in Turin, while Alberto Gilardino and Pato squandered good chances.
After the break, Seedorf hit the crossbar and Gilardino fluffed another fine opportunity before Brazilian 18-year-old Pato tapped in after 66 minutes.
Italian media speculated that coach Francesco Guidolin's fourth stint on the Palermo bench could be coming to an end after the Sicilians suffered their third consecutive defeat, going down 3-2 at home to Genoa.
© 2024 Rediff.com -