ROME, 22 April 2004 — AS Roma’s hopes of winning the Serie A title hung by the slenderest of threads after they drew 1-1 with Lazio yesterday.

The result of the match, a replay of last month’s derby that was abandoned due to crowd trouble, left Roma on 67 points, eight behind leaders AC Milan with four games remaining. Juventus are third on 63 with Inter Milan a distant fourth on 52.

Italy striker Bernardo Corradi gave Lazio the lead five minutes from the end of a quiet first half when he hooked a Luciano Zauri cross past keeper Ivan Pelizzoli.

Roma’s Brazilian midfielder Mancini put the ball in the net from close range early in the second half only for the goal to be disallowed because of a foul in the box.

In the 61st minute, however, Roma drew level after a Corradi handball enabled Francesco Totti to equalize from the penalty spot. Lazio were reduced to 10 men in the 80th minute, when midfielder Fabio Liverani was sent off for a second bookable offense, but despite a spell of late pressure Roma could not make the advantage count.

Ten-Man Monaco Overwhelm Tired Chelsea

In Monaco, a creative and spirited 10-man Monaco shocked Chelsea 3-1 in their Champions League semifinal first leg on Tuesday, making Claudio Ranieri’s expensively assembled squad look tired and ordinary.

Spearheaded by the wizardry of captain Ludovic Giuli, the young team reacted to Andreas Zikos’ harsh 52nd-minute sending off with a fine display of counterattacking football that left the competition favorites reeling.

Croat Dado Prso in the first half and Fernando Morientes and Shabani Nonda late in the second put Monaco on course for their first Champions League final.

Didier Deschamps’ side, whose average age is just 23 and who stunned Real Madrid in the quarterfinals, started brightly and took a deserved lead after 17 minutes.

Winger Jerome Rothen curled a free kick into the goalmouth, Chelsea striker Hernan Crespo missed the clearance and Prso reacted sharply to head beyond Marco Ambrosio. It was only the second goal Chelsea had conceded in seven away games in Europe this season.

Man. United Close Gap in Battle for Second Place

In London, Manchester United moved within a point of Chelsea in the battle for second place in the Premier League after a 2-0 home win over Charlton Athletic on Tuesday.

While Chelsea were engaged in European action, a role Alex Ferguson’s side usually expect to fulfill at this time of year, United got on with domestic issues and secured a solid win.

They remain third on 71 points from 34 games, one point behind Chelsea, who have also played 34. Arsenal look certain to win the league as they are clear on 81 points from 33 games.

United took the lead after 28 minutes when French striker Louis Saha fired in from 10 meters after a clever pass from compatriot David Bellion.

United, with Paul Scholes suspended and Roy Keane and Ryan Giggs on the bench ahead of next weekend’s big game against Liverpool, continued to look the more positive side without creating too many clear chances. Charlton had a strong penalty claim waved away when Paul Konchesky went down in the box early in the second half and the game was settled in the 65th minute when Saha set up Gary Neville.

The England defender, who scored his first premier league goal for United in more than three years to beat Leicester City last week, had started the move deep in his own half and finished it calmly for his second of the campaign.

Dunfermline Reach Scottish Cup Final After 36-Year Wait

In Glasgow, Dunfermline Athletic reached their first Scottish Cup final since 1968 as they came from behind to beat Inverness Caledonian Thistle 3-2 in Tuesday’s semifinal replay at Aberdeen’s Pittodrie Stadium.

Dunfermline will face Celtic at Hampden Park on May 22 and, with the champions already qualified for next season’s Champions League group stage, they are guaranteed a UEFA Cup place.

First division Inverness forced a replay after a 1-1 draw with the Premier League side at Hampden on April 10 and went ahead on Tuesday through Paul Ritchie after seven minutes.

Dunfermline almost conceded a second goal but managed to steady themselves and equalized when Darren Young struck after 25 minutes.

Both sides then had chances to go in front with keeper Derek Stillie making a great stop to deny Ritchie a second before Craig Brewster walloped home for Dunfermline after 63 minutes.

Their skipper Barry Nicholson then killed off Inverness with a classy third 12 minutes from the end.

David Bingham scored an injury-time penalty for battling Inverness, who lost to Dundee in last season’s semifinals, after substitute Darren Mackie was dragged down by Scott Wilson but it was too late to deny Dunfermline a place in the final.

The 37-year-old Brewster will be returning to Hampden a decade after he struck the winner in Dundee United’s 1-0 victory over Rangers in the 1994 Cup final.