By DPA
Milan : Serie A runners-up Roma edged a solid Palermo 1-0 late Saturday through a goal scored by Brazilian Mancini after the Sicily visitors had one man dismissed.
As the league this weekend begins its second half, Roma reduced to four points their gap from leaders Inter Milan, who are on 49 points ahead.
Roma’s hammering attacks early in the game inflamed the chanting Stadio Olimpico where the crowd held their breath as international Simone Perrotta on five minutes volleyed wide by a hairsbreadth off a Rodrigo Taddei assist.
Side defender Max Tonetto missed two fierce shots as he pushed hard on the left flank, while right-flanker Marco Cassetti saw veteran Alberto Fontana deflect his great shot on 16 minutes.
The guests only managed a couple of fruitless attacks with Brazilian Amauri and came truly close only with a wide header from defender Cristian Zaccardo on 33 minutes.
Palermo knew they were in for a defensive game and resisted well through the first half managing to block Roma strikers Francesco Totti and Mancini with efficient joint efforts from their midfield and defence packages.
But things got harder for the mid-table guests on 57 minutes with the dismissal of defender Leandro Rinaudo for a foul on Matteo Brighi.
Two minutes later, Roma took the lead through Mancini’s header off a corner kick from the right, with Fontana bearing some responsibility for his delayed intervention.
It was easy for Roma to hold control in the remainder of the game, hitting the post with a Philippe Mexes header and securing a win that keeps alive their hopes to catch up with the unbeaten title holders from Milan.
“I had a rough end of 2007…. but now I have found again my best form and I hope to continue,” Mancini said. “Today it was not a very good game, but we did enough to win.”
Former Roma striker Antonio Cassano scored the winner for Sampdoria earlier Saturday as the Genoa side edged struggling Siena 1-0 in a weekend opener.