Roma beat Parma to continue Champions League charge

Roma's charge for one of Italy's four Champions League berths maintained its momentum when they beat Parma 3-0 in Serie A last night.

Roma's seventh consecutive league win leaves them fifth with 42 points, just two behind fourth-placed Fiorentina who play Lecce today.

The 2001 champions, who knocked Juventus out of the Italian Cup in midweek, dominated the first half and went close when Francesco Totti's volley was tipped over by Matteo Guardalben.

They finally scored two minutes after the break, Brazilian winger Mancini firing in the rebound after Totti's header and close-range shot were cleared off the line in quick succession.

Parma striker Domenico Morfeo headed against the post midway through the half but in the 72nd minute Mancini grabbed his second goal, running on to Totti's neat chip before lobbing Guardalben.

Totti conjured up another defence-splitting pass six minutes later for Simone Perrotta to lob Guardalben again - this time from a tight angle - and seal the win.

In yesterday's earlier match Siena and Ascoli drew 1-1, a result that left them 12th and 13th respectively.

Ascoli were on course for their first away win this season when Gianluca Comotto put them ahead in the 40th minute. However, five minutes after the restart Erjon Bogdani volleyed home the equaliser from a corner.