ROME - Roma revived their Scudetto ambitions with a narrow win over Fiorentina on Sunday.
Brazilian right-back Cicinho struck in the 54th minute to hand the Giallorossi three valuable points.
The result reduces second-placed Roma gap with Serie A leaders Internazionale to nine points after the Nerazzurri were held to a 1-1 draw at Sampdoria.
The clash at the Stadio Olimpico was all the more special for Giallorosso captain Francesco Totti, who equalled the club record of 386 league performances, held by Giacomino Losi.
Luciano Spalletti's side ended the game with 10 men after goalscorer Cicinho was sent off for a second booking with two minutes left.
Roma went into the game in a buoyant mood after their midweek 2-1 Champions League triumph against Real Madrid but it was the visitors who had the better start.
Alessandro Gamberini was first to test Alexander Doni with his close-range header from Franco Semioli's cross, forcing the keeper to save at full stretch.
On 13 minutes, Adrian Mutu missed a golden chance to break the deadlock as he latched on to Semioli's dangerous cross only to head wide.
Roma replied with Totti's penetrating ball finding Mirko Vucinic inside the area, who fired high over the crossbar.
Roma continued to surge forward and Vucinic headed straight at goalkeeper Sebastien Frey, who then made a more spectacular save by palming over Rodrigo Taddei's powerful left-footed strike from the edge of the area.
After 36 minutes, Christian Vieri tried his luck from distance but his effort was saved by Doni.
At the other end, Cicinho warmed the hands of Frey with a 30-yard rocket.
Fiorentina suffered a setback shortly after when Mutu fell awkwardly in a collision with Doni and injured his ankle. Viola coach Cesare Prandelli was forced to make his first substitution with top scorer Mutu unable to continue.
Roma could have gone into the break with a 1-0 lead had Max Tonetti's left-footed strike not flown inches wide of the far post.
Roma upped the tempo after the re-start and Frey did well to save Vucinic's effort on target.
The hosts continued to press forward and their efforts finally paid off.
Cicinho fired a left-footed strike from the middle of the box which flew past Frey and in at the far post.
The hosts' joy could have been shortlived as the Viola replied with Zdravko Kuzmanovic's effort from distance beating Doni but rebounding off the crossbar.
Roma twice had the chance to extend their lead shorlty after but Frey did well to save Totti's close-range effort and Matteo Ferrari's powerful header.
With Roma defending well, Fiorentina were forced to try their luck from long range and Papa Waigo and Martin Jorgensen both hit shots way off target.
Fiorentina twice had the chance to level the score in the last minutes of the game.
Papa Waigo's cross found Vieri in the area but his header went wide and shortly after, Gamberini latched onto Massimo Gobbi's cross but he also nodded wide.
