AS Roma defeated Empoli 1-0 on Sunday as they clinched their 10th consecutive victory and equalled the all-time Serie A winning record. But the win was marred by the injury of skipper Francesco Totti who was forced to leave the pitch with a fractured ankle. Simone Perrotta netted the winner in the first period benefiting from a dreadful error from Empoli goalkeeper Sebastian Cejas. Roma jumped to fourth place, the UEFA Champions League final qualification spot, with a tally of 51 points. The 10-match winning run tie those of Juventus, in the 1931-32 season, AC Milan, in 1950-51, and Bologna in 1963-64. Roma received an early blow when Totti was injured in the 12th minute after a heavy challenge by Empoli defender Richard Vanigli. The Italian international is expected to be sidelined for up to three months.
Totti Roma grabbed the lead in the 15th minute when Cejas spilled Antonio Busce's back-pass into the path of Perrotta who fired the ball into the back of the net. Meanwhile, Fiorentina suffered a surprise 2-1 home defeat to Lazio to continue a fluctuating season. Valon Behrami and Tommaso Rocchi scored Lazio's goals in the 32nd and 49th minutes, while substitute Valeri Bojinov registered Fiorentina's consolation goal in the final half-hour of the match. Fiorentina dropped to fifth place in the league table with 50 points. In other matches, Chievo Verona held Palermo to a goalless draw, Parma defeated Treviso 1-0, Ascoli overcame Sampdoria 2-1, Udinese suffered a 2-1 defeat to Siena and Lecce tied Reggina 0-0.
