Roma denied victory by late Cicinho own goal

AFP - 8 November 2008 23:40

An injury-time own goal by Roma´s Cicinho, seen here in action in May 2008, earned Bologna a 1-1 draw at home to AS Roma, who were seconds from victory thanks to a Fernando Totti goal when they had lost their last four Italian league matches.

PARIS (AFP) - An injury-time own goal by Roma's Cicinho earned Bologna a 1-1 draw at home to AS Roma, who were seconds from victory thanks to a Fernando Totti goal when they had lost their last four Italian league matches.

Talismanic Totti, injured for much of the season, looked to have scored the winner midway through the second half for Luciano Spalletti's men but Brazilian right back Cicinho headed into his own net as he tried to clear danger.

"We had difficulties playing our game but once we went ahead we had renewed energy," Spalletti told Sky Sport. "We were playing less well than against Chelsea though and the players were not in great condition. We could have won but unfortunately we conceded an own goal and we have to accept it."

In Saturday's earlier fixture, Torino beat Palermo 1-0 thanks to an 88th minute goal from Austrian striker Jurgen Saumel.

However it was Roma's attempt to get back to winning ways, particularly as they had beaten Chelsea 3-1 in midweek Champions League action, which took the spotlight in Italy on Saturday.

Though Roma did at least end their losing run, they still lie in 17th spot in the league with just two victories from 10 matches for one of their worst starts in about three decades.

Bologna, in 18th spot, will have been happy to have salvaged a point for their new coach Sinisa Mihajlovic who took over from Daniele Arrigoni under whom Bologna had lost eight out of their previous 10 matches.

Captain Totti fired home with a fierce shot from the right side of the area in the 68th minute to earn Roma the lead though the match up till that point had been physical yet with no clear team on top.

In time added on at the end of the match, when Bologna were doing their best to earn the equaliser, Roma cracked to score an own goal to add to further woes of defender Philippe Mexes, with a muscular problem, and keeper Doni, hit on the head in an accidental clash with striker Marco Di Vaio, having to go off.

In the ensuing moments after a corner, Di Vaio's cross was rather spectacularly nodded into his own net by Cicinho, an impressive diving header while not appearing to be under any pressure from Bologna players.

In a week's time, Roma will be returning to action in their Olympic stadium and will be very motivated for victory as it is against arch rivals Lazio.