GOAL

Roma's inability to turn draws into victories continued as their Serie A title bid was dealt another blow in Sunday's 1-1 draw at Hellas Verona.

The Giallorossi are now nine points adrift of table-toppers Juventus as Francesco Totti's opener was cancelled out by an own goal from Seydou Keita

Francesco Totti, who had not scored since his match-saving double in the Rome derby over a month ago, opened the scoring with a long-distance strike which skidded into the bottom corner.

A terrific, left-footed strike from Radja Nainngolan with 10 minutes on the clock nearly gave the visitors a cracking start, however, with Francesco Benucci's fingertip save kept the scoreline at 0-0.

Three minutes later it was Adem Ljajic who tested the Verona shot-stopper, as he drove a free-kick from the flank, but Benucci reacted and smothered the ball on his goalline.

The Giallorossi kept up the pressure and on the 26-minute mark Benucci was finally beaten when Tottilashed his ninth goal of the season into the bottom corner from 25 yards.

Verona's first effort on goal did not come until the 37th minute. Former Barnsley midfielder Emil Hallfredsson found some space on the edge of the box and brought the Bentegodi residents to their feet with a shot which cannoned just wide.

Rudi Garcia's men failed to heed the warning signal and, a little over 60 seconds later, Jankovic rose highest from Hallfredsson's corner and his header was deflected into the back of the net by Keita's knee.

Ljajic, who had been buzzing about Verona's box in dangerous fashion all half, finished the opening 45 minutes by thundering a Roma free-kick on to the crossbar.
 

After the break Juanito had a glorious chance to put the hosts into the lead just minutes into the second half, but slipped as he shot and fired just off target from 10 yards out.

A few minutes later it took a goalline clearance from Roma substitute Vasilis Torosidis to deny Hallfredsson from converting an excellent counterattack, in the midst of very entertaining, end-to-end fair in Verona.

However, the pace of the game noticeably dropped late on as Roma ran out of ideas and Mandorlini's men settled for a point against the second-placed side.