Roma tighten grip on Serie A title
ROME, Italy -- Captain Francesco Totti scored a penalty and added a second with a skilful lob as AS Roma beat lowly Empoli 2-0 on Saturday to go six points clear in Serie A.
Italian international playmaker Totti scored from the spot on 23 minutes after Norwegian striker John Carew was fouled by home defender Francesco Pratali.
The 27-year-old wrapped up victory in first-half injury time as he caught Empoli keeper Luca Bucci out of position with an impudent lob.
It took him to nine goals for the season, three behind the league's top striker Andriy Shevchenko of AC Milan.
Roma's 11th win of the season, in which only four goals have been conceded, lifted the club to 36 points, six clear of AC Milan and seven more than defending champion Juventus, in action in the 14th round of matches on Sunday.
In another match Saturday, David Di Michele ended Reggina's 446-minute scoring drought in the first half and team-mate Francesco Cozza added another goal in injury time as the southern team handed Parma a first Serie A loss at home 2-1 to move clear of the relegation zone.
It was Parma's second loss in a row, following a 4-0 thrashing by Juventus in the previous round.
Di Michele netted the opening goal for the visiting team in the 27th minute on a quick breakaway at Tardini stadium.
It was Reggina's first goal in league matches since Nov. 9.
Di Michele also had a role in Parma's equalizer in the 84th, when he handed the ball just inside his penalty area on a cross by Brazilian Junior.
Parma striker Alberto Gilardino converted from the 11-meter spot for his sixth goal this season.
As the teams appeared settling with a draw, midfielder Francesco Cozza grabbled the winner with a diagonal shot in injury time.
The loss added misery to the Parma team, which is indirectly involved in financial woes of the Italian dairy Group Parmalat, the team sponsor-owner through the Calisto Tanzi family.
