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Francesco Totti equalised on the stroke of half-time, but Cagliari are scaring Roma with Matteo Ferrari's own goal.
This was a crunch match for the title race and relegation battle, as the Sardinians were on the verge of an incredible escape after the three-point penalty was quashed and the Giallorossi had closed the gap on Inter to four points. Cagliari had taken seven points from a possible nine going into this game, but had Daniele Conti - son of Roma director Bruno - suspended. Daniele De Rossi, Simone Perrotta and Mirko Vucinic also sat out bans for the visitors.
Roma hadn't won here since October 1995 and lost 3-2 last season, so this was the trickiest fixture they could face ahead of the Champions League quarter-final with Manchester United.
It certainly was a stunning start! After Michele Fini skimmed the woodwork, Matteo Ferrari accidentally turned a corner kick into his own net just two minutes and four seconds in! Rodrigo Taddei and Alexander Doni looked able to get hold of it, but neither of them were quick enough.
Ferrari made up for it soon after with a well-timed tackle on Pasquale Foggia inside the box, but Roma fought back and Ludovic Giuly's snapshot from 20 metres stung the palms of lifelong Giallorossi fan Marco Storari.
Roma were visibly less sharp than the Sardinians in the opening stages, but gained more confidence and David Pizarro drilled over. Amantino Mancini should have equalised on 22 minutes when Francesco Totti's header was flicked on to the back post, but the unmarked Brazilian incredibly ballooned over the bar!
Mancini went a lot closer moments later, as he smartly trapped a long ball, cut back past the defender and his low drive cracked against the outside of the upright.
Storari was tested again by Giuly's fierce left-foot strike from 10 yards, while Mancini dribbled past two players and saw his shot charged down by a third.
Yet the Sant'Elia was on its feet on 32 minutes when a corner found Michele Canini's header at the near post that shook the side netting and made it appear from some sections of the stadium that it had gone in.
Totti's free kick got a fingertip touch from Storari to turn it out for a corner and from that chaotic set piece the goalkeeper plucked a Philippe Mexes effort out of the air.
Ferrari's diving header from a corner was over, but in the final seconds of the first half Totti got an equaliser. His free kick bounced off the ground and Mancini didn't quite make contact, doing enough to confuse goalkeeper Storari as it slotted in at the near post.
After the restart Mancini rolled a corner across to Giuly and a shot straight at Storari's chest, but some dreadful defending from Ferrari allowed Robert Acquafresca a shot from six yards smothered by Doni.
Giuly flashed a shot across the face of goal and Acquafresca was crowded out by defenders. David Pizarro was booked for simulation and will be suspended against Genoa.
Alberto Aquilani replaced Matteo Brighi and with his first touch had a great chance to seal victory, a diving header turning Cicinho's cross off target. Aquilani nearly scored an absolute gem moments later, flicking the ball with a 'rabona' from six yards that brought a fantastic reaction save out of Storari. The rabona is when a player crosses his legs over and hits the ball with his back foot.
Mauro Esposito returned to Sardinia after six years at the club, but was greeted with a very cruel reception of jeers. Cicinho blasted just over after combining with Totti.
There were appeals five minutes from time that the ball had crossed the line, but replays showed clearly that Storari parried a Totti header with his outstretched foot before it went into the net from Mancini's chipped cross.
The tension rose with Cagliari Coach Davide Ballardini sent off for leaving the technical area. Totti chested down a corner and had his shot charged down by Canini,
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