Captain Totti gives Roma the edge

In the Coppa Italia semi-final first legs, a second-half goal by Francesco Totti gave AS Roma a 1-0 win over Calcio Catania while S.S. Lazio held Serie A leaders FC Internazionale Milano at San Siro.

Long-range effort
A well-organised Catania side contained holders Roma in the first half at the Stadio Olimpico but home captain Francesco Totti struck just after the break when he fired in a powerful right foot shot from 25 metres which flew past goalkeeper Ciro Polito and into the roof of the net. The Giallorossi could have extended their lead further to give them a cushion for the return in Sicily, but Polito made good saves from Mancini, Totti and Simone Perrotta to keep Catania's hopes of reaching their first ever final alive.

Milan stalemate
In Milan, Inter coach Roberto Mancini rested several key players with the Scudetto still to be decided - Inter are four points ahead of Roma with five games to play - and the visitors were clearly the better side in a first half in which Francesco Toldo was forced to make a fine save from Stefano Mauri's close range shot. Inter improved in the second half and went close to scoring when Argentinian defender Nicolás Burdisso hit the bar with a powerful header ten minutes from time.

Juve stroll
In Serie A, Juventus consolidated their position in third as strikes from David Trezeguet after 17 minutes, Raffaele Palladino (31) and an own goal from Stefano Morrone (77) gave them a 3-0 home win against Parma FC who remain a point above the relegation zone.