MILAN, May 11 (Reuters) - Inter Milan again wasted the
chance to retain their Serie A title when they were held 2-2 at
home by Siena on Sunday with Marco Materazzi having a penalty
saved.
Second-placed AS Roma beat Atalanta 2-1 to cut the gap to
one point with one round of matches remaining next weekend in an
exhilarating finish to the season.
Inter, who lost to AC Milan last Sunday to spurn their first
opportunity of sealing the scudetto, visit relegation-threatened
Parma and Roma go to Catania, who could also go down.
'At 2-2 there was no longer any logic on the field, I was
angry about this. We were piling forward too much,' Inter coach
Roberto Mancini told Sky, relieved his side had not lost.
'We have the quality to win at Parma, Roma have to go to
Catania and it won't be simple.'
Bottom side Livorno were relegated after a 1-0 defeat at
home to Torino while Empoli must beat Livorno next Sunday to
have any chance of staying up after losing 2-0 at Reggina, who
are now safe.
Third bottom Parma and fourth bottom Catania will have
everything to fight for next Sunday with two points
separating the teams.
Fiorentina came from behind to beat Parma 3-1 to move into
fourth spot and the final Champions League qualifying place
after AC Milan, now two points behind with a game left, lost 3-1
at Napoli.
Catania were safe with a minute to go in their game at
third-placed Juventus before Alessandro Del Piero snatched a 1-1
for the hosts.
Inter looked to be cruising to the title after just 11
minutes when Patrick Vieira headed in a corner after sustained
pressure.
However, Massimo Maccarone swept in at the near post to
equalise for Siena, who had nothing to play for after sealing
their Serie A place last weekend.
Inter's 17-year-old striker Mario Balotelli sent a packed
San Siro crazy when he nodded in on halftime but Houssine
Kharja, a former Roma player, brought Siena level again in the
second half with a neat finish from the edge of the area.
The drama was far from over at 2-2 with Materazzi's nervous
penalty well-saved by Alex Manninger 12 minutes from time.
'This is football, people miss penalties,' Mancini added.
Roma, 11 points behind Inter in February, overcame Atalanta
thanks to Christian Panucci's header and Daniele De Rossi's free
kick.
'Plaudits to the players and staff of Siena who have shown
that fair play is not just for the English,' De Rossi told
reporters. 'Unfortunately we continue to look at Inter from
below and winning at Catania will be tough.'
If Luciano Spalletti's side win next weekend and Inter fail
to take three points they will snatch the most unlikely of
titles. However, if Roma draw and Inter lose, Mancini's team
will be champions because of their better head-to-head record
over Roma.
