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Mirko Vucinic bagged his first goal in a Roma jersey and it could be a decisive one in the Scudetto race.
Luciano Spalletti's men knew their slender remaining Scudetto hopes hinged on this result ahead of next week's showdown with leaders Inter, while Siena were in the balance between relegation fears and European ambitions. Captain Francesco Totti was suspended and replaced by Mirko Vucinic, while the Tuscans fielded former Roma youth product Daniele Corvia upfront.
Strangely, Siena had only ever lost here once - 6-0 in 2004 - before snatching two consecutive Serie A wins at the Olimpico. They scored within the opening 40 seconds, but Daniele Portanova's header was disallowed for a push, then Ciccio Cozza and Corvia had shots charged down.
Alex Manninger blocked a Simone Perrotta strike, while Vucinic nodded ex-Siena man Rodrigo Taddei's cross over the bar. However, Cristian Chivu flung himself at a Cozza counter-attack.
Daniele De Rossi took over free kick duty in Totti's absence and curled a powerful set-piece inches past the top corner with Manninger rooted to the spot.
Frick's solo run and strike flashed over the target, while David Pizarro and Amantino Mancini had tame efforts saved. There was a very dangerous Siena counter-attack, but Luca Antonini's final ball caught Frick offside.
In the second half Manninger controlled a Pizarro daisy-cutter, while Molinaro ran out of steam after dribbling all the way up the pitch.
Alexander Doni required a spectacular flying save to fingertip Frick's brilliant volley out from under the bar from Tomas Locatelli's cross on the hour mark. There was tension when Mancini was visibly irritated at his substitution.
Pizarro again went close, his effort skimming the bar, and Roma eventually broke the deadlock moments later. It was ex-Lecce striker Mirko Vucinic who finally broke his goal drought with his first goal for the Giallorossi after two serious injuries. In his first start, he hooked down a Francesco Tavano long ball and smashed it past Manninger from a tight angle with his left foot.
His celebrations were, to say the least, enthusiastic and all his teammates also piled in to congratulate the unlucky Montenegran.
A corner kick landed on De Rossi's feet from six yards, but he wasn't expecting it and deposited the ball softly into Manninger's arms.
Tavano's right-foot missile took a coat of paint off the far post, but Roma had drawn their previous three official games and risked sharing the spoils here too when Doni had his palms stung by Chiesa's piledriver.
There was tension in stoppages with Locatelli sent off for an elbow on De Rossi, although it seemed to be more clumsy than malicious.
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