A last-gasp penalty by defender Alessandro Parisi earned Messina a 1-1 home draw with AS Roma, who lost ground to Serie A leaders Inter Milan on Sunday. Brazilian midfielder Amantino Mancini put the visitors ahead six minutes before the break when he latched on to Francesco Totti's through pass before hitting a low drive into the net. The referee awarded Messina a spot-kick two minutes from time following a reckless tackle by Roma defender Cristian Chivu on Messina striker Arturo Di Napoli. Parisi stepped up and successfully converted the ball into the back of the net but was sent-off in stoppage time for a second booking. Roma almost sealed the victory just before the final whistle but Marco Cassetti's shot from outside the area was brilliantly saved by Messina keeper Marco Storari.
Inter, who beat Torino 3-1 in the on Saturday to set an all-time Serie A record of 12 successive victories, are on top of the league table with 51 points, nine ahead of second-placed Roma. Elsewhere, Milan beat Reggina 3-1 at the Giuseppe Meazza to climb up to the table's top half for the first time this season. Andrea Pirlo broke the deadlock as early as the third minute before Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf doubled the lead in the 35th minute. Rolando Bianchi pulled one back for the visitors six minutes past the hour mark but Alberto Gilardino wrapped up the win 12 minutes later. The victory lifted the Rossoneri to the ninth spot with 23 points.
