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| Totti keeps Roma in the race |
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Francesco Totti kept alive Roma's Serie A title hopes with two late goals against Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico.
Trailing 1-0 after substitute Andrea Lazzari's 73rd-minute strike, Totti hit back with two goals - the second from the penalty spot - as Roma won 2-1.
The result has left Roma trailing leaders Inter Milan by two points heading into the final week of the campaign.
Inter held on for a 4-3 win over Chievo.
Roma play at Chievo in their last game while Inter travel to face already-relegated Siena.
Roma went into the game knowing that only a win would prevent Inter from clinching the scudetto.
The Romans had gone unbeaten in 24 games and leapfrogged the Nerazzurri into first place last month to fuel hopes of a first title since 2001 but their stay at the top was shortlived.
Claudio Ranieri's team lost to Sampdoria and Inter capitalised by winning their games to move back into the lead.
Today, Roma were unlucky not to go in front early against Cagliari.
Totti's right-footed strike from 20 yards beat Cagliari goalkeeper Federico Marchetti but crashed off the post and stayed out.
Shortly after, Totti fed Luca Toni inside the area and his right-footed attempt was saved by Marchetti.
Roma dominated possession and it seemed only a matter of time before they would go in front.
In the 20th minute, Jeremy Menez threatened with a shot from the edge of the area but it was cleared by Marchetti.
Three minutes later, Menez fired over the bar after Marco Motta's cross.
Three minutes before the break, Menez passed to Motta but the home crowd was again left disappointed as his right-footed attempt from 25 yards struck the left post.
Cagliari suffered a setback after the restart with Marchetti having to leave the game because of a muscle injury.
The visitors brought on Cristiano Lupatelli and he was called into action immediately.
Daniele De Rossi's powerful effort for Roma from outside the area was on target but Lupatelli was equal to the task.
The visitors almost broke the deadlock in the 64th minute.
Lazzari fed Alessandro Matri in the left wing and his left-footed strike towards the bottom left corner was saved by Roma goalkeeper Julio Sergio.
At the other end, Lupatelli was forced to fully stretch to parry away Menez's strike from the edge of the area.
Despite Roma's dominance, Cagliari took a surprise lead in the 73rd minute.
Lazzari's curled free-kick into the bottom right corner beat Julio Sergio.
Menez found Totti and his diagonal strike towards the far post beat Lupatelli.
In the 83rd minute, Roma's prayers were answered when the referee pointed to the spot after Davide Biondini used his hand to deflect John Arne Riise's shot.
Totti marched into the box and drilled the ball past Lupatelli and into the bottom right corner.
The Stadio Olimpico erupted as Roma made sure the title race would go to the last week.
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