ROME (AFP) - Inter Milan´s grip on the Serie A title has tightened considerably as closest rivals Roma were held to a 1-1 draw at Messina.

Roma were in command after Brazilian winger Mancini had broken the deadlock with a low drive six minutes before half time Sunday.

But a series of missed chances came back to haunt them when Christian Chivu conceded a penalty in the 89th minute by needlessly clattering into Arturo Di Napoli.

Alessandro Parisi tucked away the spot-kick before picking up a second yellow card and being sent off.

A draw left Roma in second place on 42 points, nine behind Inter at the halfway stage of the season.

Reigning champions Inter had opened up a 10-point gap on Saturday by winning 3-1 at Torino for their 12th consecutive league win - a new Serie A record.

Palermo are four points behind Roma in third place after defeating Udinese 2-0 in Sicily where goals from Andrea Caracciolo and Cristian Zaccardo secured a solid rather than spectacular victory.

Catania could concede fourth place later on Sunday following their 2-1 loss at improving Chievo.

Lazio will leapfrog the Sicilians into the final Champions league spot up for grabs if they win at home to Siena in Sunday´s late match.

AC Milan, hit with an eight-point penalty for match-fixing, continued their ascent with an unconvincing but vital 3-1 home win over Reggina.

Milan surged ahead with goals from Andrea Pirlo and Clarence Seedorf before Rolando´s Banchi´s rasping 25-yard shot reopened the contest for the visiting Calabrians.

Reggina were enjoying their best spell of the match when Alberto Gilardino finished off a swift counter-attack with an angled shot to ease Milan´s jitters.

Cristiano Doni scored twice as Atalanta thumped Livorno 5-1 in Bergamo, while a coolly-struck penalty by Honduran striker David Suazo secured a 1-0 win for Cagliari against bottom club Ascoli.

Sampdoria against Fiorentina ended in a goalless draw.

Empoli beat relegation-threatened Parma 2-0 on Saturday to stake their claim as outsiders for fourth place.