PECCHIA STRIKE TAKES SCUDETTO TO LAST DAY
Gabriel Batistuta and Francesco Totti looked to have wrapped up Serie A when they put Roma 2-1 up against Napoli - cancelling out an early strike from another ex-Juve star Nicola Amoruso.
However Pecchia's goal from a free kick with ten minutes remaining came as a hammer blow to Roma - who must now pick up all three points on the last day of the season, with Juventus two points behind going into the final match, and Lazio also within three points of their Roman rivals, to guarantee success.
David Trezeguet scored a brace as Juventus kept the pressure on with a 3-0 win at Vicenza that leaves the home side deep in relegation trouble.
Trezeguet struck in the 39th and 51st minutes to add to Alessandro Del Piero's 37th minute effort whilst the out of favour and unhappy Filippo Inzaghi could only watch from the bench.
Lazio proved too strong for Fiorentina as the reigning champions strolled to 3-0 win on Roberto Mancini's first visit to the Stadio Olimpico since his departure in January.
An Alessandro Pierini own goal gifted Lazio the lead in the 34th minute, a lead doubled two minutes before the break by Hernan Crespo, the Argentine netting his 25th league goal of the campaign.
Marco Negro scored Lazio's third in the 55th minute.
When two teams tie on points in Italy a play-off ensues, and it is still feasible that Lazio could match Roma - if both teams above them lose - on 72 points.
Juventus will win the title if they win and Roma lose, but the Giallorossi still have their destiny in their own hands - and a win would see the Scudetto trophy decorated in yellow and red, and a draw would force a dramatic play-off.
Verona ended a fourteen month search for an away win with a 2-1 win at Parma that keeps the visitors hopes of surviving the drop alive.
Massimo Oddo scored the games opening goal in the 32nd minute but just as Amoroso seemed to have rescued a point for Parma with 68th minute equaliser Michele Cossato snatched a winner for the visitors in the 85th minute.
Bologna lost ground in the race for a Uefa Cup place when they were held 2-2 by struggling Lecce despite the visitors playing for most of the match with only ten men.
Lecce opened the scoring in the 34th minute with a Davor Vugrinec penalty, awarded after Carlo Nervo had needlessly handled the ball, but Lecce's numbers were then reduced with the dismissal of Dario Dainelli in the 43rd minute.
Julio Cruz pulled the home side level in the 52nd minute from the penalty spot but Lecce regained the advantage through William Viali in the 63rd minute, the 26 year old firing home a free kick from 25 yards that caught Gianluca Pagliuca in the Bologna goal unprepared.
However, Brazilian Cruz hauled Bologna level again when he converted his second spot kick of the game to tie the score up in the 84th minute.
Pagliuca then made amends for his earlier error when he saved a further penalty in the 88th minute, Klas Ingesson the player to fail from the spot but only after Bologna's Guilio Falcone had been dismissed for taking his protests to far.
Massimo Taibi gifted Perugia a penalty and a share of the points as Reggina drew 1-1 and remain entrenched in the relegation struggle.
Marco Materazzi profiting from Taibi's 62nd minute indiscretion to cancel out Andrea Zanchetta's 32nd minute goal for Reggina.
Alvaro Recoba bagged a brace to help Inter move a little nearer European football next season with 2-1 win at bottom club Bari. The Uruguayan scoring a goal either side of Daniel Andersson's penalty kick reply for home side Bari.
Roberto Muzzi ensured Atalanta end the season with the least number of home victories. The Udinese striker scored the games only goal in the 31st minute to secure three points for the visitors.
Milan's disappointing season continued as they were held 1-1 by Brescia at the Guiseppe Meazza.
Brescia's Jonathan Bachini cancelling out Jose Mari's splendid goal for Milan in what could be the Spaniards last appearance for the Rossoneri.
