Roma 2 - 1 Messina

Roma 2-1 Messina

Updated: March 19, 2006, 4:45 PM ET

ROME, March 19 (Serie A) - Roma returned to winning ways as Messina's survival battle suffered a setback at the Stadio Olimpico.

Luciano Spalletti's side have suffered a dip in form since setting a new Serie A record of 11 straight victories last month, culminating in their midweek exit from the UEFA Cup.

But Roma showed patches of their best form on Sunday night as goals from Simone Perrotta and Alberto Aquilani put them in control of proceedings.

Messina's top scorer Arturo Di Napoli then entered the fray and scored to set up a nervy finish.

Indeed, Roma almost fell behind early on when Sergio Floccari rounded goalkeeper Gianluca Curci only to be thwarted by an excellent challenge from Christian Panucci.

Panucci was outstanding at full-back and he deserves almost all of the credit for Perrotta's seventh-minute opener.

His cross could not have been better placed, possessing enough whip and dip to tempt Marco Storari off his line, but Perrotta's head beat the advancing keeper to the ball for his sixth goal of the season.

In-form Alessandro Mancini really should have made it 2-0 before the quarter-hour, Edgar Alvarez this time delivering the perfect ball from the right wing, but Mancini headed wide.

Perrotta then mis-timed his header from another fine Panucci cross while Mancini sent a spectacular volley over the bar.

The visitors were grateful to Storari's brilliant double-save for keeping them within touching distance as Alvarez's mishit shot fell to Aquilani.

He fired goalward and Storari parried straight to Perrotta before pulling off an incredible reflex stop on the rebound.

However, he looked to have gifted Roma a second when Mancini's left-wing free-kick went straight through his attempted punch.

But the officials ruled out the goal after spotting Daniele De Rossi's attempted handball.

It was a controversial decision, with replays suggesting De Rossi had not made contact despite clearly intending to do so.

Despite only two away wins in Serie A this season and one victory at Roma in more than 40 years, Messina emerged from the interval with a good deal more confidence and Parisi forced a brilliant stop from Curci with a driven free-kick.

De Rossi flashed wide from 25 yards as Roma re-established control and they looked to have sealed the win thanks to a wonderful individual goal from Aquilani.

He picked the ball up 40 yards out and set off on a run, before unleashing a delightful curling finish into the far corner from 25 yards.

However, Messina refused to lie down and accept defeat and Sergio Floccari forced a great stop from the sprawling Curci after a great run and one-two with Zlatan Muslimovic.

And they got back into the game through substitute Di Napoli who netted his 11th of the season after a fantastic burst of acceleration and power took him past three Roma defenders.

Curci got hands on his finish but Aleandro Rosi's desperate goalline clearance was too late to prevent the goal being given.

Marc Zoro's dipping header saw Curci at his acrobatic best as Messina sensed an equaliser and Roma suffered what could prove a big blow when De Rossi was forced off injured.

However, they finished the stronger and Mancini's venomous shot had Storari at full stretch before teenage striker Stefano Okaka Chuka's shot squirmed under the keeper, who nevertheless got enough on the ball to send it wide.