By DPA
Milan : Second-place Roma beat guests Reggina 2-0, bouncing back from a poor showing, to move within five points of Serie A leaders Inter Milan.
Roma, now on 48 points from 22 games, resumed winning after last weekend’s 3-0 crash to lowly Siena. Unbeaten Inter, however, can again extend their lead to eight points late Sunday as they close the weekend at Catania.
At Rome’s Stadio Olimpico Saturday, Roma pressed the guests in their midfield, coming close with a fast drive from Brazilian Mancini and a wide Francesco Totti header before Christian Panucci scored on 21 minutes.
The veteran defender displayed his aerial skills, nodding home a long cross from a tight angle to stun an uncertain Andrea Campagnolo.
Reggina tried a single, central effort through Franco Brienza on 28 minutes but switched gears after the break, bringing on strikers Ayodele Makinwa, a Nigerian who just returned from the African Cup of Nations, and Nicola Amoruso.
The game became harder for Roma as the guests came close in the 52nd minute with a Luca Vigiani shot blocked by defenders and again five minutes later when Brazil goalkeeper Doni deflected a Maurizio Lanzaro drive.
The hosts still managed to threaten with swift counterattacks and secured the win in the 75th minute through a smashing tap-in from Mancini after Campagnolo managed to save a shot from Frenchman Ludovic Giuly.
One minute later, a smashing drive from Makinwa bounced off the bar, denying a consolation goal for the Reggio Calabria side, who remain third-from-last in the relegation zone.
Earlier Saturday, fourth-place Fiorentina drew 2-2 at mid-table Atalanta, moving onto 38 points to retain the last of four Champions League berths.
AC Milan look to improve their 33 points when they welcome lowly Siena Sunday, and could leapfrog the Florence side through a game in hand that they play Wednesday against Livorno.