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Edgar Alvarez snatched Messina's first victory since October with his first goal for the club deep into stoppages.
This was a relegation scrap, although Siena could boast an eight-point advantage over their Sicilian rivals. It was a special game for Vincent Candela, who left Robur in January after a bitter row with Coach Mario Beretta. Christian Rigano' finally returned after a three-month injury lay-off due to a groin strain, but was only fit for the bench. Enrico Chiesa was laid low by measles.
Massimo Maccarone nodded a Luca Antonini cross over the bar and Candela's free kick whistled past the upright. Ciccio Cozza also went close for Siena, but Paul Codrea limped off with a thigh problem after just 22 minutes.
Marco Zoro turned a Candela corner kick over, Alessandro Parisi's trademark free kick whistled past the post and Caglioni punched out Daniele Portanova's header from a corner.
In stoppages Roberto D'Aversa turned an acrobatic attempt over the bar and in the second half Zoro again tried with a header from a set-piece.
Cozza could only get a stud to Antonini's cross towards the back post, as the slightest more contact would've directed it in from less than six yards.
The Messina fans gave Rigano' a standing ovation on his return to the field three months after suffering a groin strain. His team had been challenging for a place in Europe before his injury saw them slide down to the relegation zone.
Simone Vergassola curled a fine effort from the edge of the area that cannoned off the crossbar.
There were desperate saves on both a Portanova header and Ivica Iliev solo effort, then Caglioni performed another great stop on Maccarone from the penalty spot and palmed Vergassola's curler over the bar.
The game seemed to be creeping towards a 0-0 draw, but in the last minute of stoppages Edgar Alvarez pounced on a poor clearance outside the area to smash home a splendid finish and give Messina a desperately-needed victory.
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