Okaka seals late Roma win

Substitute Stefano Okaka scored with a stunning backheel two minutes from time to give flying Roma a 2-1 Serie A win over bottom side Siena yesterday.

Roma went level on points with second-placed Milan, who ended a difficult week by labouring to a 1-1 home draw with struggling Livorno.

Both sides moved eight points behind leaders Inter, whose match at Parma was postponed because of snow, although Roma have played a game more.

The little-used Okaka was due to make a loan move to Fulham but was named in the squad yesterday because four Roma forwards were out injured, including Francesco Totti and Luca Toni.

The 20-year-old entered the fray on the hour after John Arne Riise's terrific volley put Roma ahead before Simone Vergassola equalised from a tight angle late in the first half.

Okaka made an immediate impact and then found the perfect moment to score his first league goal of the season with a powerful backheel from eight metres out.

"I told him 'you're not leaving now'. He fainted," Roma coach Claudio Ranieri joked to Sky TV, hinting Okaka would still go to Fulham when the window closes today.

Milan could have done with a moment of magic themselves after another lacklustre performance at the San Siro following last week's defeat by nine-man Inter and Wednesday's Italian Cup exit at the hands of Udinese.

Ronaldinho struck a post before the in-form David Beckham swung in a cross which keeper Francesco Benussi failed to hold, leaving Massimo Ambrosini to hook the ball home just before the break.

Livorno, whose coach Serse Cosmi resigned last week before changing his mind, deservedly equalised eight minutes into the second half when striker Cristiano Lucarelli prodded in Claudio Bellucci's scuffed shot.

A bad week for Fiorentina also ended on a dull note with a 2-2 draw at Cagliari which left the Florence club 11th.

Striker Adrian Mutu has been suspended for testing positive for a banned appetite suppressant and Fiorentina's bid to sign Antonio Cassano from Sampdoria as his replacement fell through.

Cassano was injured for Samp but they still won their second game in a row after a poor spell with Angelo Palombo and Giampaolo Pazzini setting up a 2-0 victory over lowly Atalanta.

Also in the bottom half, Catania drew 1-1 at home with Udinese and Bologna grabbed a 1-1 draw at Chievo.

In the evening match, Alberto Zaccheroni took charge of free-falling Juventus for the first time at home to Lazio. However, the new coach, who replaced Ciro Ferrara last Friday, failed to lift Juve's spirits and the Bianconeri slumped to a one-all draw at home.

An Alessandro Del Piero penalty on 70 minutes was wiped out by Stefano Mauri eight minutes later.

The atmosphere in Turin was tense, as fans staged a 'silent' protest at nine defeats in the last 12 official games.

Many were also unhappy at the choice of ex-Torino, Lazio, Milan and Inter boss Zaccheroni.