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Roma's worst performance of the season saw them thrashed 3-0 by relegation strugglers Siena, wrecking their Scudetto hopes just as they had been revived.
The Giallorossi closed the gap to five points from leaders Inter last week and had to keep up the pace against a Siena side with just one home win and six draws all season. Having said that, they made Inter sweat for a slender 3-2 victory in January and stunned Palermo away. Roma were unbeaten on their travels and Rodrigo Taddei returned to face the club that made his name.
These sides had met four times in Serie A at the Stadio Franchi, resulting in one draw in 2003 and three Roma wins on the trot. In that time Siena had scored one goal and conceded nine.
Incredibly, it was Siena who took the lead after 11 minutes. Former Giallorossi flop Houssine Kharja went on a strong run down the right channel and crossed back for a splendid Simone Vergassola half-volley with his weaker left foot.
Roma struggled to get back into the game as Francesco Totti drilled wide, but Siena risked a second with Jarolim thumping the bar with a dipping strike.
Simone Perrotta should have done better as he volleyed a fantastic Totti flick on the edge of the box, but hit it straight at Alex Manninger.
Siena had an extraordinary chance to double their advantage just before the break, as Mario Frick rolled the ball on to the inside of the far post with his left foot and it ricocheted into Alexander Doni's arms before Massimo Maccarone could take advantage.
The goal was in the air and arrived moments later. Paolo De Ceglie went down the left and hit in a powerful cross that Doni parried on to teammate Philippe Mexes for an unlucky ricochet and Max Tonetto's attempted goalline clearance couldn't keep it out.
Roma were pouring forward after the restart, but were very ineffective and left plenty of space for Siena to counter, Maccarone's shot deflected on to the side-netting. Ludovic Giuly and Coppola both had long-range efforts tipped out for a corner.
Doni got down to tip another Maccarone attempt round the post and tempers flared as Manninger was booked for timewasting, Totti actually trying to punch the ball out of his grasp to get on with a corner kick.
A set-piece was cleared to the edge of the box for a Tonetto thunderbolt on to the side netting.
However, there was only really one team in it and Siena made it 3-0 with Frick flashing a shot across the face of goal to slot in at the far corner.
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