Tuesday, September 19 2006 11:48 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Milan: Palermo and Roma head the Serie A football tournament standings with six points each, but the latter team leads the table on goal difference.

A brace by David Di Michele gives Palermo a 2-1 win over struggling Lazio to push the Sicilian side level on six points with Roma at the top of Serie A.

Roma's 3-1 win over 10-man Siena Sunday (17 Sep, 2006) gives it an edge on goal difference, while Inter Milan, who are held 1-1 at home Saturday (16 Sep, 2006) by visiting Sampdoria, are one of five teams on four points.

Di Michele puts Palermo ahead in the 11th minute, curling a lob past Angelo Peruzzi, and beats the veteran goalkeeper again on 38 minutes with another drooping shot.

Brazilian Simplicio comes close for Palermo firing against the post, while Lazio misses two glaring chances through Christian Manfredini and Goran Pandev.

In the second half, the hosts' pressure yields only a consolation goal scores on 73 minutes by Tommaso Rocchi. The striker's close-range shot, however, does nothing to reduce Lazio's 11-point penalty receives in a match-fixing trial.

Pitted against the tough Tuscany hosts at Siena's rain-drenched pitch, Roma opens with a dangerous free kick from Romanian Christian Chivu and has things made easy on 28 minutes when Siena midfielder Ezio Brevi is dismissed for hitting an opponent.

Roma had more chances, with a drive from international Daniele De Rossi bravely saves by Austrian keeper Alex Manninger, who also blocks a spurt from Simone Perrotta.

Brazilian Rodrigo Taddei, a former Siena midfielder, is on target on 46 minutes with a fierce shot follows on 70 minutes by a David Pizarro effort. Liechtenstein's Mario Frick curls home a free kick for Siena's only goal before Stefano Okaka scores Roma's third in the dying seconds.

"My team was in good form and did what they had to do against a well organised Siena. They did what they could and were clever when they pulled one back," says Roma coach Luciano Spalletti.

Promoted sides Atalanta and Catania draw 0-0 and also lie on four points along with newcomers Messina, who draws 1-1 at Ascoli, and Empoli, helps in their 1-1 draw against Chievo Verona by the first-half dismissal of Brazil midfielder Luciano.

Udinese beats 2-0 promoted Torino and Livorno secures a Tuscany derby beating 1-0 Fiorentina through a second-half header from captain Cristiano Lucarelli.

The second straight defeat leaves the Florence side stuck at the bottom with a heavy 19-point deficit, while Reggina brings their points tally to minus 12 with a 2-1 win over Cagliari Saturday (16 Sep, 2006).