Italian Serie A reports

Brief reports of Italian Serie A matches played on Sunday.

AS ROMA 4 TORINO 1

Roma kept the title race alive with a clinical victory which leaves Torino looking nervously over their shoulders.

David Pizarro netted from the spot after Simone Perrotta was felled and Perrotta then played in Mirko Vucinic to score from a tight angle.

Mancini’s diving header from fellow Brazilian Cicinho’s cross made it three and he soon scored a second after a strong run from Vucinic as Roma went in 4-0 up at the break.

Nicola Ventola grabbed a consolation for Torino early in the second half before Roma defender Juan was sent off for a foul.

 
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FIORENTINA 2 SAMPDORIA 2

Daniele Gastaldello’s header deep into injury time snatched a point for the visitors and leaves the battle for the final Champions League qualifying place wide open.

Fourth-placed Fiorentina thought they had won it when Adrian Mutu converted a penalty five minutes from time after the Romanian controversially went down in the box.

Christian Vieri had earlier brought the hosts level after Christian Maggio had burst into the box unmarked to open the scoring for Samp, who are four points behind Fiorentina.

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GENOA 0 EMPOLI 1

Ignazio Abate nutmegged Genoa keeper Rubinho to hand Empoli an unexpected lifeline in the battle to avoid the drop.

The Tuscan side are outside the relegation zone thanks to a better head-to-head record against Reggina while Genoa, who had Marco Di Vaio dismissed late on, now have little chance of reaching the UEFA Cup.

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INTER MILAN 2 CAGLIARI 1

Inter need to match second-placed Roma’s score next weekend to retain their title when they meet derby rivals AC Milan.

Patrick Vieira’s clipped pass on 22 minutes was diverted into the net with Julio Cruz claiming the goal despite the ball appearing to come off Cagliari defender Paolo Bianco’s shoulder.

Marco Materazzi’s towering header from Cristian Chivu’s free kick sealed the victory before Davide Biondini’s late, deflected effort for the Sardinians, who could have scored more but for Alessandro Matri missing three good chances.

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JUVENTUS 5 LAZIO 2

Defender Giorgio Chiellini scored twice to help Juve secure a Champions League qualifying spot and stay five points behind second-placed Roma.

Chiellini headed in Mauro Camoranesi’s free kick before Italy midfielder Camoranesi tapped in after some poor Lazio defending.

Alessandro Del Piero then notched his 18th of the league season with a well-placed shot and strike partner David Trezeguet netted his 19th with Camoranesi again the architect.

Juve took their foot off the gas after the break and Rolando Bianchi and Sebastiano Siviglia scored for mid-table Lazio, before Siviglia was sent off and Chiellini slid in a fifth.

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LIVORNO 1 AC MILAN 4

Filippo Inzaghi notched a hat-trick to keep Milan in the hunt for a Champions League qualifying spot.

His first was a trademark goal from close range as Livorno appealed in vain for offside following Kaka’s pass across the box.

The 34-year-old netted his second on 52 minutes and headed in his third from a corner as the home defence went to sleep. Clarence Seedorf made it four before Dario Knezevic scored for the hosts, who stay bottom with three games left.

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NAPOLI 0 SIENA 0

A game of few chances in Naples between two mid-table sides, although Argentina’s Ezequiel Lavezzi was again Napoli’s best player with some driving runs.

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PALERMO 0 ATALANTA BERGAMO 0

Another dull mid-table duel with both sides having little to play for.

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REGGINA 2 PARMA 1

Francesco Cozza’s double helped Reggina come from behind to triumph in this relegation battle.

A penalty from Luca Cigarini midway through the first half gave Parma the lead after Reginaldo was brought down.

Parma, who had three sent off last weekend, lost Massimo Paci in the second period after a second booking and almost immediately Cozza tapped in the equaliser after Nicola Amoruso’s effort was cleared off the line. Cozza scored his second on 65 minutes with a deflected shot from the edge of the area.

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UDINESE 2 CATANIA 1

Forward Fabio Quagliarella smashed in off the bar from 20 metres to leave Udinese on track for a UEFA Cup place.

Italy striker Antonio Di Natale sprung the offside trap and calmly stroked home for the hosts early on.

A fantastic volley at the near post from Juan Vargas equalised for Catania, managed last term by Udinese boss Pasquale Marino, but the lead lasted four minutes before Quagliarella struck in the 38th