MILAN, 23 May 2005 — A goal from Antonio Cassano secured Roma’s top-flight survival yesterday after their 1-0 win over Atalanta sent the Bergamo club down to Serie B.
Juventus, crowned champions on Friday after their sole rivals AC Milan were held to a 3-3 draw at home to Palermo, had little to play for and were held to a 2-2 draw at Livorno.
After Pavel Nedved had put Juve ahead in the 10th minute goals from Igor Protti and Cristiano Lucarelli gave Livorno the advantage before David Trezeguet’s 66th minute goal earned Juve a point.
The traveling 2,500 Juve fans celebrated throughout the match but the main party for the ‘scudetto’ was expected to take place in Turin where fans were waiting for the team to return by air. With the title race wrapped up in advance of the penultimate Sunday of action the focus turned to the battle for Serie A survival and European qualification.
Roma’s first win since Bruno Conti took charge in mid-March put an end to fears of the capital club slipping into Serie B for the first time in 53 years.
A cool finish from Cassano five minutes into the second half proved to be decisive against Atalanta and resulted in scenes of celebrations from the Roma players.
Roma have secured a UEFA Cup spot via their qualification for the Italian Cup final where they will face Inter Milan — already assured of a place in the Champions League thanks to their third place finish in Serie A.
Fiorentina, next to bottom, remained in trouble after a controversial 1-1 draw at Lazio.
Enzo Maresca headed Fiorentina in front in the second minute but Sebastiano Siviglia’s header from a corner in the 18th minute brought Lazio level.
Siena, held to a goalless draw at fellow strugglers Parma, currently occupy the third of the three relegation slots on 40 points.
Parma are one of three teams on 41 points along with Brescia, who had an impressive 2-1 over Messina, and freefalling Bologna who suffered a 1-0 defeat in their relegation ‘six pointer’ with Chievo.
In the race for European places, Udinese drew 1-1 at Cagliari to take a grip on fourth place after Brazilian Adriano gave Inter a 1-0 win over Sampdoria.
