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LEGA CALCIO: Comical errors gift Roma victory

Three comical errors from Parma helped gift hosts AS Roma a 4-0 victory at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday and moved them to within six points of leaders Inter Milan.

AC Milan missed the chance to move back into the top four and a Champions League qualification place as they were held to a 1-1 draw at home to 10-man Lazio.

Parma goalkeeper Luca Bucci handed a goal to AS Roma midfielder Alberto Aquilani in the first half and after the break Parma captain Giulio Falcone scored an own goal before Francesco Totti, making a record 388th league appearance for Roma, scored a third 10 minutes from time.

Deep into stoppage time another mistake, this time from Damiano Zenoni presented Roma substitute Mirko Vucinic with an easy finish from inside the six-yard box as Roma enjoyed an easy ride ahead of their midweek trip to Real Madrid in the Champions League.

"The match seemed to be easy, but that's credit to our lads," said Roma coach Luciano Spalletti whose side will take a 2-1 lead to Madrid. "We showed that we're in good shape. The pressure will increase ahead of the match with Real. The second leg in the Champions League at the Santiago Bernabeu is an opportunity for us to show what we're made of. If we play like we did tonight, we'll achieve a good result."

Roma took the lead after a terrible mistake from Bucci. Brazilian winger Alessandro Mancini released overlapping full-back Max Tonetto down the left and he crossed into the six-yard box.

Inexplicably, Bucci tried to punch the ball away with both fists instead of catching it and succeeded only in planting the ball onto Aquilani's foot.

The midfielder did little more than prod the ball back in the direction it had come from and although Bucci got a touch, the ball looped over him and into the goal.

In the second half, Parma shot themselves in the foot again as Tonetto turned provider a second time.

His cross to the back post was aimed at veteran Christian Panucci, but Falcone kicked the ball off his own knee and past a baffled Bucci as he tried to clear acrobatically.

With 10 minutes to play, substitute Mauro Esposito's clever backheel set up Totti for a ferocious finish into the far corner from outside the box.

And right at the death, Zenoni headed Roma full-back Cicinho's cross straight to Vucinic who could not miss from close range.

At the San Siro, AC Milan were without key playmakers Kaka and Andrea Pirlo against Lazio as they kept one eye on tomorrow's Champions League second round, second leg clash against Arsenal.

The reigning European champions put in an insipid display as they failed to exert any sort of domination on their mid-table opponents.

Lazio took the lead nine minutes after halftime as former Manchester City forward Rolando Bianchi turned home a cross from Tommaso Rocchi from close range.

Milan needed a helping hand from the referee to get back on level terms, as he awarded a penalty after Georgia defender Kakha Kaladze slumped theatrically to the turf at a corner.

Massimo Oddo fired home the spot-kick low to goalkeeper Marco Ballotta's right, but Milan were indebted to their Australian shot stopper Zeljko Kalac for earning them a point as he made smart saves from Rocchi and Goran Pandev.

"I'm happy because I made three important saves in a short space of time," Kalac said. "I'm sorry we didn't win, but now we turn to Tuesday and hopefully we can play at a higher level. We're playing twice a week and we're paying for the fact we're not training regularly. Against Arsenal we'll do better, I'm sure of that."
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