Roma reel as minnows fly high

By Barnaby Chesterman

ROME

AS Roma plunged further into crisis after suffering a 0-1 defeat at Siena on Sunday and having both their centre-backs dismissed.

Luciano Spalletti’s team had already had a poor start to the season before this, their third defeat in as many away games that leaves them in the bottom half and with just seven points from six games.

They are already six points off city-rivals Lazio and champions Inter Milan at the top.

Liechtenstein forward Mario Frick scored the winner in first half stoppage time as he reached Massimo Maccarone’s cross just ahead of France defender Philippe Mexes.

Any hopes Roma had of salvaging something from the game disappeared after the break as first Mexes and then Cristian Panucci received their marching orders.

One of Roma’s main problems this season has been the number of injuries they’ve had, depriving them of top players such as Mexes, Juan and Francesco Totti and now the subsequent suspensions Mexes and Panucci will serve could hit them even harder than the loss of three points in Siena.

Juventus are not going much better as they lost 1-2 at home to Palermo while finishing with 10 men.

Fabrizio Miccoli gave the Sicilians the lead in the first half, reacting quickest to prod the ball home after Juve goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon spilled a cross from Edison Cavani.

AC Milan also suffered a disappointing result, drawing 0-0 at rock bottom Cagliari, who packed up their first point of the season.

Udinese are joint top with Lazio, who were held 1-1 at home by Lecce on Saturday, and Inter, 2-1 winners over Bologna on Saturday, after the northerners won 2-0. — AFP