ROME, Italy (Reuters)

AS Roma lost ground on Serie A leaders Inter Milan when they conceded a late penalty to draw 1-1 at Messina yesterday.

Roma looked on course for victory after a first-half goal by Brazilian winger Mancini, but with a minute of normal time remaining, Cristian Chivu upended Arturo Di Napoli in the box to give Alessandro Parisi the chance to strike home the equaliser.

The result left Roma on 42 points from 19 matches - the halfway stage of the season - nine points behind Inter, who set a Serie A record of 12 wins in a row when they defeated Torino 3-1 on Saturday.

Palermo consolidated third-place on 38 points with a 2-0 win over Udinese, while AC Milan racked up their third win in succession by beating Reggina 3-1.

Roma's players needed a win to keep up the pressure on Inter in their first game back after Italy's three-week winter break.

They dominated possession in the first half but were let down by a lack of precision in the final third of the pitch.