Sat Mar 29 19:51:13 2008

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Roma wastes chance to close gap on Inter Milan

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Cagliari, Italy (Sports Network) - Francesco Totti scored in the 45th minute as Roma overcame an early own goal but settled for a 1-1 draw with Cagliari on Saturday and wasted a chance to pull closer to Inter Milan.

Inter Milan tied Lazio 1-1 on Saturday, and Roma could have moved within just two points of first place in the Italian Serie A with a win.

But disaster struck in the third minute when Roma defender Matteo Ferrari put the ball into his own net.

Cagliari held onto the edge until the closing minutes of the opening half when Totti leveled the match.

Roma dominated possession and fired 20 shots - eight on goal - while limiting Cagliari to just one shot on goal but couldn't add a second goal.

Inter Milan grabbed an early lead on Hernan Crespo's goal in the 11th minute, but Tommaso Rocchi equalized in the 59th minute for Lazio.

Inter maintained a four-point edge with just seven games remaining.

On Sunday, Empoli hosts Sampdoria, AC Milan hosts Atalanta, Catania Calcio hosts Torino, Livorno hosts Siena, Udinese hosts Fiorentina, Napoli hosts Palermo, Juventus hosts Parma and Genoa hosts Reggina.