Scorers: Chivu 14 (R), Montella 19 (R), Di Natale 27 (U), Pinzi 33 (U), Mancini 44 (R), Di Michele 75 (U)

Roma threw away a 2-0 lead and eventually hung on for dear life at the end of an exhilarating six-goal thriller at the Stadio Friuli.

Roma knew they had to conquer the Friuli or give up hope of capturing a Champions' League spot this season. They were coming off four consecutive defeats and had to do without the suspended Francesco Totti, Simone Perrotta, Christian Panucci and Daniele De Rossi, while Ivan Pelizzoli, Traianos Dellas and Philippe Mexes were injured.

Leandro Cufre and Antonio Cassano were able to start despite being late fitness doubts, while 17-year-old midfielder Massimiliano Marsili was given his Serie A debut. Of the Roma starting eleven, only Olivier Dacourt, Leandro Cufre and Vincenzo Montella were over the age of 25.

On-form Udinese were boosted by the international debuts of David Di Michele, Vincenzo Iaquinta, Morgan De Sanctis and Giampaolo Pinzi in last week's 0-0 draw with Iceland.

Roma had the first chance after four minutes when Montella chipped up a cross for Alberto Aquilani, whose header was off target, while soon after Marek Jankulovski's turn was also wayward.

Udinese slowly took control and Gianluca Curci flew to palm Antonio Di Natale's fierce strike over the bar.

But it was the Giallorossi who took the lead after 14 minutes with a splendid free kick from set-piece specialist Cristian Chivu. The Romanian curled his finish in at the near post with his left foot from 28 metres.

Curci was the third choice goalkeeper going into this campaign, but he performed another stunning close-range reaction save on Nestor Sensini's spin.

Vincenzo Montella had not scored in almost two months, but he nodded in Amantino Mancini's deflected cross to double Roma's lead. Cassano also deserves much of the credit for this goal, as his solo run started the move.

Udinese got back into the game thanks to a defensive error, as Matteo Ferrari's weak clearance from a set-piece was straight into the path of Di Natale for a simple tap-in from six yards.

Curci was again crucial with a double save on Sulley Ali Muntari and David Di Michele's follow-up.

But Roma's disastrous defensive record struck again and Udinese completed their comeback by the 33rd minute. Jankulovski's cross was not dealt with and Giampiero Pinzi was totally unmarked at the back post to fire home past a helpless Curci.

It was a very entertaining game and Morgan De Sanctis performed an extraordinary save on youth team player Valerio Virga - who had just stepped on to the pitch to replace a clearly nervous Marsili - from close range.

Moments later Cassano dribbled past two players and was cut off in the area by Muntari, then Aquilani fired over the bar.

Cassano was the key figure at Roma in the absence of Totti and his cross-field pass found Amantino Mancini for a splendid angled drive that restored Roma's lead on the stroke of half-time. It was the Brazilian's fourth of the season and the fifth goal of an evenftul first half.

Per Kroldrup was introduced in the second period to give the Udinese defence a bit more pace, while Pinzi limped off with a calf problem.

There was chaos in the Roma area on 53 minutes as Jankulovski's effort was deflected into the path of Di Natale, whose finish was tipped on to the edge of the upright by Curci's elbow.

There was controversy soon after, as Leandro Cufre was caught on camera slapping Di Michele in the face as they waited for a free kick to be taken, but the referee did not witness the incident.

It turned into a siege with shots charged down by any means necessary and Jankulovski eventually firing wide, then Curci beat away both a David Pizarro free kick and Di Michele strike.

Montella made the most of the counter-attack and was off target from close range, but the Capocannoniere made way for 20-year-old Daniele Corvia.

Udinese's constant pressure eventually paid off on 75 minutes, as Cufre stayed behind and allowed Di Michele to remain onside for Pizarro's delightful chipped pass and he subtly lifted the ball over Curci to make it 3-3.

The confidence was now with the Friuli outfit and Curci smothered the ball on Iaquinta's feet after some good build-up from Di Michele.

Pizarro's fierce angled drive skimmed the upright, as did Di Michele's half-volley. Deep into stoppages a corner kick was taken quickly and Di Michele's bicycle-kick was inches wide of the post.

Udinese: De Sanctis; Bertotto, Sensini (Kroldrup 46), Felipe; Pinzi (Zenoni 48), Pizarro, Muntari, Jankulovski; Di Michele, Iaquinta, Di Natale (Fava 82)

Roma: Curci; Scurto (Briotti 88), Ferrari, Chivu, Cufre; Mancini, Marsili (Virga 36), Dacourt, Aquilani; Montella (Corvia 72), Cassano

Ref: Bertini