Sat Mar 15 17:52:28 2008

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Roma rallies to topple Milan

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Rome, Italy (Sports Network) - Roma's title hopes stayed on course on Saturday with a 2-1 win over AC Milan at the Stadio Olimpico as Ludovic Giuly and Mirko Vucinic scored goals in the final 12 minutes to give the home side the win.

Kaka opened the scoring in the 56th minute for Milan, which remains one point back of Fiorentina for fourth place. The Viola will have a chance to stretch that lead to four points on Sunday with a win against Genoa.

Roma's win cuts their deficit to three points behind league-leaders Inter Milan, but the Nerazzuri will also have a chance to restore their lead with three points against Palermo on Sunday.

The game started slowly with neither side providing a serious threat in the first half.

Kaka had a weak header stopped by Roma keeper Doni midway through the half before Roma's Francesco Totti pulled a shot wide from inside the area on the right.

Giuseppe Favalli crossed for Kaka shortly before the half but the Brazilian's header was wide of the right post and the clubs entered the break scoreless.

The game opened up in the second half and Milan's Clarence Seedorf had the first chance when he was played into the box by Favalli only to be denied by a nice diving stop from Doni.

Just a few minutes later, Milan went in front when Massimo Oddo got down the right wing and pulled the ball back to the penalty spot for Kaka, who slammed a half volley past the keeper to put the visitors ahead.

Seedorf nearly made it a two-goal game when Pato put him through on goal. The midfielder eluded the onrushing keeper but couldn't keep his balance and he was only able to put a weak shot on goal that was cleared off the line by Roma defender Cicinho.

Roma came close minutes later when Vucinic narrowly missed the top corner, but they would soon be level in the 78th minute.

A free kick was played into the box and it resulted in a scramble for the loose ball. Simone Perrotta came away with it and slipped a pass to Giuly, who was open in front of goal. The Frenchman then put the chance away with a neat scissors kick and Roma was even at 1-1.

It took just three minutes for the hosts to take the lead as Daniele De Rossi played a great long ball to Vucinic, who beat the offside trap and then slotted the ball into the lower right corner to give Roma the win.

In Saturday's other contest, sixth-place Udinese was held to a 2-2 draw by Lazio. Cristian Ledesma put Lazio ahead 2-1 in the 80th minute but Antonio Di Natale scored with four minutes to play to earn his team a share of the points.