AS Roma Ties Record but Loses Captain

AS Roma beat lowly Empoli 1-0 on a first-half goal by Simone Perrotta on Sunday, equaling a Serie A record of 10 straight wins in a match in which captain Francesco Totti injured his leg and was expected to miss 2-3 months.

The 29-year-old Roma playmaker should recover in time to play for Italy at the June 9-July 9 World Cup in Germany.

"He's a very important player for the national team," Italy coach Marcello Lippi said. "It would be a pity not to have him in the World Cup. We will be waiting for him and will do everything possible to recover him in time."

Totti twisted his left ankle following a rough tackle in the 12th minute and was carried from the field on a stretcher at Stadio Olimpico. Initial reports from club officials said he has a fractured fibula and strained ankle ligaments.

Roma equaled the record set by Juventus in 1932 — and later matched by AC Milan and Bologna — on Perotta's 16th-minute goal.

Fourth-place Roma trails league leader Juventus by 16 points but is within four points of third-place Inter Milan.

In Sunday's other games, Siena upset Udinese 2-1 on the road on two goals by 19-year-old striker Rey Volpato; Sampdoria stumbled 2-1 at home against Ascoli; Lecce and Reggina tied 0-0; Parma won 1-0 at Treviso to escape the relegation zone; and Chievo Verona held seventh place following a 0-0 tie with Palermo