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By James Eve
ROME, April 10 - Udinese kept their charge for a
place in next season's Champions League on track by fighting
back from a two-goal deficit to draw 3-3 with AS Roma on Sunday.
The result meant Udinese clung on to Serie A's fourth and
final Champions League berth with 49 points from 30 matches, one
ahead of fifth-placed Sampdoria, who were held to a dour 0-0
draw at Cagliari's Sant'Elia stadium.
Udinese displayed considerable spirit to storm back for the
draw but were helped by Roma, who had won just once in their
previous eight games, being decimated by suspensions and injury.
Striker Francesco Totti, midfielders Daniele De Rossi and
Simone Perotta and defender Christian Panucci were all banned
while first-choice keeper Ivan Pelizzoli missed out through
injury.
The visitors' problems did not stop them scoring twice
inside the first 25 minutes, Cristian Chivu whipping in a free
kick and Vincenzo Montella heading home a cross by Brazilian
midfielder Mancini to rack up his 20th Serie A goal of the
season.
Within 10 minutes Udinese were level when Antonio Di Natale
took advantage of Matteo Ferrari's skewed clearance to blast a
low shot past reserve keeper Gianluca Curci.
HAPHAZARD DEFENCE
Roma's haphazard defence then allowed the ball to worm its
way across the area to Giampiero Pinzi who, unmarked inside the
area, was presented with the simplest of finishes.
Udinese seemed to be imposing themselves on the match but a
minute before the interval Mancini ran on to a long pass by
Antonio Cassano and beat keeper Morgan De Sanctis with a precise
diagonal shot.
Curci preserved their lead with a succession of saves until
the 76th minute when home striker David Di Michele slipped
through Roma's offside trap and coolly chipped in.
Cagliari, who have only lost once at home in Serie A this
season, could have grabbed all three points in the goalless draw
with Sampdoria but striker Mauro Esposito sent a close range
chance high over the bar in the closing stages.
The main beneficiaries of Udinese and Sampdoria's failure to
win were sixth-placed Palermo, who climbed to 47 points after
beating fellow Sicilians Messina 2-1.
Messina were already a man down after the first half
dismissal of Salvatore Aronica when Cristian Zaccardo put
Palermo ahead in the 53rd minute.
Riccardo Zampagna headed Messina level but in the 77th
minute Palermo striker Luca Toni chested down Fabio Grosso's
cross before spinning and shooting past Marco Storari.
In the bottom half of the table, UEFA Cup quarter-finalists
Parma lifted themselves three points clear of the relegation
zone with a 3-1 win over Reggina.
Atalanta confirmed their recent run of good form by
overpowering Chievo Verona 3-0 to rack up their third win in a
row and lift themselves off the bottom of the table where they
were replaced by Brescia.
AC Milan and Juventus, level at the top, both drew on
Saturday.