Udinese keep Euro charge on track

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 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 Perrotta 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.

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 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.

Milan and Juventus, level at the top, both drew on Saturday.

Serie A

Atalanta 3
Chievo 0
HT: 2-0. Att: 12,000

Cagliari 0
Sampdoria 0
Att: 15,000

Lazio 3
Livorno 1
HT: 2-0. Att: 34,000

Lecce 2
Siena 2
HT: 1-1. Att: 14,000

Palermo 2
Messina 1
HT: 0-0. Att: 33,000

Reggina 1
Parma 3
HT: 0-1. Att: 17,000

Udinese 3
Roma 3
HT: 2-3. Att: 23,000

Played On Saturday

Bologna 0
Inter 1
HT: 0-1. Att: 23,000

Milan 1
Brescia 1
HT: 1-0. Att: 59,726

Fiorentina 3
Juventus 3
HT: 2-1. Att: 34,000

Leading Scorers

20 goals Montella (Roma)

16 goals Gilardino (Parma)

15 goals Adriano (Inter)

14 goals Esposito (Cagliari), Shevchenko (Milan), Toni (Palermo)

Next Fixtures

Saturday - 6 p.m. Messina vs Udinese. 8.30 p.m. Roma vs Reggina; Sampdoria vs Palermo.

Sunday - 3 p.m. Bologna vs Lazio; Brescia vs Atalanta; Chievo vs Parma; Inter vs Cagliari; Juventus vs Lecce; Livorno vs Fiorentina; Siena vs Milan.

Note: The original fixtures scheduled for next weekend were postponed for Wednesday, April 20 at 8.30 p.m.

Serie B

Modena-Verona 2-0

Serie C1(A)

Acireale-Sangiovannese 1-0

F. Andria-Grosseto 0-0

Frosinone-Cremonese 1-0

Lucchese-Como 1-0

Novara-Pisa 0-0

Prato-Lumezzane 0-1

Spezia-Pro Patria 1-1

Torres-Vittoria 1-0

Leading standings: Cremonese 64; Pavia 56; Mantova 54; Grosseto 53; Frosinone 52; Pistoiese 50.

Serie C1(B)

Avellino-Teramo 1-0

Benevento-Spal 2-1

Cittadella-Rimini 4-2

Foggia-Martina 0-0

Giulianova-Sora 2-1

Lanciano-Fermana 3-0

Napoli-Padova 2-1

Samb-Chieti 1-1

Vis Pesaro-Reggiana 2-0

Leading standings: Rimini 61; Avellino 56; Napoli 52; Padova 43; Reggiana 42; Benevento, Lanciano, Sambenedettese 41.