Fiorentina, Palermo and Empoli reach UEFA Cup

MILAN, May 20 (Reuters) Fiorentina, Palermo and Empoli claimed their places in next season's UEFA Cup with a game to spare today after rivals Atalanta could only draw 1-1 with champions Inter Milan.

Empoli will be playing European football for the first time despite strugglers Reggina coming back from 3-0 down to draw 3-3, while Fiorentina drew 2-2 at already-relegated Messina and Palermo beat relegation-threatened Siena 2-1.

Reggina's superb comeback at Empoli keeps them level on 37 points with third-bottom Siena in the battle to avoid the final relegation slot.

Catania are just a point ahead of the drop zone after they went down 1-0 at Sampdoria but Chievo boosted their survival hopes heading into the final weekend of the season with a 1-0 win over doomed Ascoli.

Claudio Ranieri's Parma are also still in danger on 39 points but managed a creditable goalless draw at Lazio, who were already assured of Champions League football next season.

Second-placed Roma, fresh from their Italian Cup final win over Inter in midweek, lost 3-2 at Cagliari despite Francesco Totti notching his 23rd and 24th league goals of the campaign.

CURLING SHOT Empoli, from a relatively small Tuscan town, went 3-0 up in the first half and appeared to be cruising towards the UEFA Cup without needing to worry about Atalanta's score.

Ighli Vannucchi scored with a curling shot from outside the box on nine minutes, Davide Moro also netted from range 10 minutes later and Luca Saudati slid in the third as he collided with the post.

Reggina produced an improbable second half comeback though to prevent themselves slipping into the drop zone.

Luca Vigiani nodded in a corner before Nicola Amoruso's diving header and late penalty levelled matters.

Atalanta had looked set to force the UEFA Cup issue to the final round of matches when Ferreira Pinto poked in after a mazy run on 10 minutes.

But Luis Figo's penalty early in the second period ended their outside chance of qualification.

Fiorentina, deducted 15 points for their part in last season's match-fixing scandal, would have finished in a Champions League place if it had not been for the punishment but they will be happy to have reached the UEFA Cup without injured striker Luca Toni.

Palermo reappointed sacked coach Francesco Guidolin last week after fearing they would miss out on Europe with his assistants in charge.

REUTERS AKD RAI2124