MILAN // Nine-man Roma suffered their third defeat of the season yesterday when they went down 1-0 at Siena while Juventus also remain off the pace following a 2-1 home defeat by Palermo. Roma, runners-up last season to Inter Milan, went behind to Mario Frick's goal in first-half stoppage time and lost defenders Philippe Mexes and Christian Panucci to red cards in the second period. The Giallorossi were humiliated 3-0 at Siena last season and this time were thwarted by their former goalkeeper Gianluca Curci.
Levan Mchedlidze grabbed the 81st-minute winner for Palermo at Juve, who had Mohamed Sissoko dismissed in the first half and have not won for four games in all competitions having drawn their previous three matches. The former Juve striker Fabrizio Miccoli put the Sicilians ahead on 24 minutes and although Alessandro Del Piero netted with a soft free-kick, Juve were back on the defensive when Sissoko was dismissed for a second yellow following a studs-up tackle.
The defence then fell apart for Georgian forward Mchedlidze to slot home and send Palermo up to 12 points and keep injury-hit Juve on nine. "Certainly a home defeat hurts. After three draws we wanted to win but the lads did everything possible," the Juve coach Claudio Ranieri told Sky TV. "It is a difficult period, it is pointless denying it. I don't want to make excuses but to play with 10 is tricky."
AC Milan's run of three league wins in a row came to an end in the late game at bottom side Cagliari, who hung on for a 0-0 draw and their first point of the season. Massimo Ambrosini twice went close for the visitors but Ronaldinho, who scored in last weekend's 1-0 win over Inter Milan, was largely anonymous and was substituted. Fabio Quagliarella scored twice to keep Udinese joint top with Inter and Lazio in a 2-0 win over Torino.
Napoli missed the chance to go top after losing 3-2 at Genoa in an enthralling encounter which was only bettered by Atalanta's thrilling 4-2 victory over Sampdoria with playmaker Cristiano Doni in exceptional form. The Italy striker Alberto Gilardino netted his fourth of the league campaign to help improving Fiorentina win 2-0 at Chievo. *Reuters
