Roma keep Inter waiting for title

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MILAN, Italy -- Inter Milan missed the chance to clinch the Serie A title after they were handed their first league defeat of the season 3-1 by second-placed AS Roma on Wednesday.

Inter's hopes of sealing their second successive crown were dashed as late second-half goals from Francesco Totti and Marco Cassetti sealed Roma's win at the San Siro.

It was Inter's first league defeat of the season.

"It hurts a bit. We hoped to finish the season unbeaten. But as far as the title is concerned, this doesn't change very much," said Inter coach Roberto Mancini.

"We still need six points to close out the championship. I think this result will give us extra motivation in next Sunday's match (against Siena)."

Simone Perrotta fired Roma ahead a minute before halftime following a cross by Christian Chivu before Marco Materazzi levelled from the penalty spot.

Roma goalkeeper Alexander Doni was penalized for tripping Adriano but replays indicated otherwise.

Inter remain on 81 points, 13 ahead of Roma with six matches to play.

In other matches, third-placed Lazio (57 points) were held to a 0-0 home draw by relegation-threatened Chievo Verona.

Lazio's Valon Behrami and Chievo's Paolo Sammarco were sent off for fighting in the 45th minute, and the home side also had Luciano Zauri red carded in the second half.

Giuseppe Rossi, on loan from Manchester United, scored twice as Parma beat Fiorentina 2-0.

AC Milan tightened their grip on fourth and a Champions League qualifying place as Alberto Gilardino and Kaka grabbed a brace apiece in a 5-2 win over Ascoli.

Inter's relentless progress towards the title had slowed slightly in the past two weeks with back-to-back draws against Reggina and Palermo.

They still seemed to be struggling to shake off their dip in form in the early stages against Roma.

Midfielder Dejan Stankovic curled a long-range shot against Roma's bar, but for most of the first half the visitors were in control, as Inter keeper Julio Cesar beat away a Totti shot then tipped a long-range effort by Mancini on to his bar.

Roma's pressure paid off a minute before halftime. Daniele De Rossi slid the ball wide for Chivu, and the Romanian international sent a low cross into the box, which Perrotta turned in from close range.

Slightest contact

Inter came out more aggressively after the interval, though they were lucky to draw level when Adriano fell over under the slightest contact with Doni to earn a penalty, which Materazzi converted on 52 minutes.

After the equalizer, though, Inter raised their game.

Adriano almost scored with a header that Doni pushed on to his post and shots by Stankovic and Douglas Maicon flew narrowly wide.

With two minutes remaining, however, Esteban Cambiasso fouled De Rossi to give away a free kick, and Totti blasted in a low shot that deflected off Luis Figo to beat Cesar.

Cassetti's late strike in stoppage time sealed a win that stripped away Inter's air of invincibility, though it is unlikely to breathe new life into the title climax.

Ascoli had held Lazio to a 2-2 draw in the previous round of games, but were swept aside by Milan who struck four times before the interval.

Ronaldo created the first two, flicking the ball over a defender for Gilardino to volley in the first after three minutes, and then going down under a challenge by home keeper Dimitrios Eleftheropoulos to earn a penalty, which Kaka fired home.

Gilardino's second goal -- a header from a Marek Jankulovski cross - was followed by a penalty for Ascoli, which Luigi Di Biago converted, but Kaka restored the three goal cushion in the 35th minute when he spun and unleashed a right-footed drive from the edge of the area.

A shot by Ascoli midfielder Stefano Guberti ran through a crowd of players to beat Milan keeper Zeljko Kalac shortly before the break.

Clarence Seedorf wrapped up a comprehensive victory when he lobbed the keeper midway through the second half.

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