ROME (AFP) - Ten-man AS Roma kept their title chase alive with a vital 2-1 victory over lowly Empoli at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday.
Things looked bad for the Romans midway through the second half with the score at 1-1 and Simone Perrotta dismissed but a goal from veteran defender Cristian Panucci sealed the three points.
Roma are now just four points behind leaders Inter who host Juventus in the 'Derby of Italy' later on Saturday.
Roma coach Luciano Spalletti praised his side for their resilience when down to 10 men.
"It was a great reaction on a heavy pitch with a numerical disadvantage," he said.
"In 300 matches as a coach I've never yet had an easy one. Empoli are a good team with young players."
On loan Juventus youngster Sebastian Giovinco was a constant thorn in Roma's side. He should have put the visitors ahead on 13 minutes when he burst through into the area but he smashed his shot straight at Brazilian goalkeeper Doni, who deflected the ball over the bar.
On 33 minutes he came even closer to giving plucky Empoli the lead with a long range strike that had Doni rooted to the spot but which cannoned back off the post and away to safety.
Two minutes later Empoli paid the price for their profligacy as Roma took the lead. Captain and talisman Francesco Totti set Max Tonetto running into the box with a clever back-heel and the left-back kept his cool to finish at the near post.
But five minutes after the break Giovinco finally got the goal his performance deserved as he latched onto a cross from the marauding Ignazio Abate to slot home.
Things got worse for Roma as Perrotta was shown a straight red card for tripping Felice Piccolo.
But on 63 minutes the 10 men took the lead as Panucci headed home a free-kick from the left from Chile international David Pizarro.
AC Milan kept up their chase for fourth place and Champions League football next season as they won 1-0 at Torino with a goal from Brazilian teenager Pato.
The 66th minute strike owed much to the work of Italy international Alberto Gilardino, who moments earlier had seen a shot from seven yards blocked by Torino goalkeeper Alberto Fontana.
But Gilardino got through again and despite falling over, he was up quickly to turn Fontana and beat him with a trickling cross shot that Pato poked over the line from centimetres out.
Torino had a great chance to equalise in the last quarter of an hour but Milan's Australian goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac made a point blank save from Roberto Stellone.
"We had to win this match at all costs. We have to look at those ahead of us and Fiorentina won," said Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti.
Milan are still fifth, four points behind fourth-placed Fiorentina who beat Lazio 1-0 in Florence.
Fiorentina came close to scoring when Giampaolo Pazzini headed a pass from Romania forward Adrian Mutu onto the bar midway through the second half.
But on 77 minutes Pazzini finally broke the deadlock as he turned onto a pass from Fabio Liverani and shot low past veteran goalkeeper Marco Ballotta at the near post.
