Totti blow as Roma drop two points

ROME, Italy -- Alessandro Diamanti dealt a crushing blow to AS Roma's hopes of lifting the Serie A title when he scored an 83rd minute equalizer for bottom club Livorno at the Stadio Olimpico.

Victory would have lifted Roma to within a points of leaders Inter Milan, who travel to Torino on Sunday.

The home side suffered another major setback when captain Francesco Totti damaged knee ligaments in the 36th minute.

It is feared he could need more surgery.

Roma looked to be on their way when Mirko Vucinic gave them a 54th minute lead but Diamanti's fierce free-kick hurtled past Alexander Doni to make it 1-1.

Desperate Roma threw everything at Livorno keeper Marco Amelia in the closing stages but although Daniele De Rossi and Christian Panucci, with an injury time header, went close, two points slipped away.

Totti's ligaments were damaged when he attempted a long-range shot.

"Now, we've got to establish if it's a partial or complete tear of the cruciate ligament," Roma physician Mario Brozzi told the ANSA news agency. "Only then can we decide whether or not to operate."

Totti was taken to a local hospital for an MRI and left wearing a cast, the Apcom news agency reported.

In February 2006, Totti broke his left leg and strained ligaments in his ankle. Since then, he has played with a metal rod and about 10 support screws inside his left ankle.

Totti has also struggled lately with a right foot problem and back pain. He missed both legs of the Champions League quarterfinals against Manchester United earlier this month with a muscle tear in his left thigh.

"The disappointment is total," said Roma manager Luciano Spalletti.

"The team were in front, and they were worth the lead even if they weren't that dangerous in the first half.

"And then, at 1-1, they created three or four shots worthy of goals. We should have been more aggressive. We've squandered an opportunity."

Roma defender Philippe Mexas added: "That's the way it goes. We're really disappointed because we didn't merit a result like that.

"To lead 1-0 is never enough. We should have done better, regardless of the opposition.

"It's a great pity. The Scudetto is won also by beating smaller sides. And if we always produce a draw against them (this stalemate followed a draw away to Livorno earlier in the campaign) we can't think about winning the title.

"And now, unfortunately, we have to wait on results elsewhere."

Livorno's unexpected point makes them one of three teams on 30 points at the foot of the table, with four teams above them no more than four points ahead with four matches to play.

In Saturday's late game fourth-placed Fiorentina beat mid-table Palermo 1-0 courtesy, the goal coming from a fine 20 meter shot from Marco Donadel in the 29th minute. E-mail to a friend