The hosts - whose UEFA Cup hopes were thrown into jeopardy by the result - pulled a goal back late on through Giovanni Tedesco, but it proved little more than a consolation.

The Sicilians were knocked down into sixth spot by the defeat, with Fiorentina breathing down their necks in pursuit of securing European football with three games remaining.

Palermo started brightly and Eugenio Corini's inviting fifth-minute cross was crying out for a strong finish, but Andrea Caracciolo could not direct his header on goal.

Alberto Aquilani presented Alberto Fontana with his first save of the day, and the goalkeeper got down well to prevent the midfielder's shot from the edge of the area creeping in.

But Fontana was helpless to defend against Roma's opener.

Totti curled a superb free-kick from 25 yards sailing past the flailing keeper and into the roof of the Palermo net to silence the home crowd in the 17th minute and set the visitors on their way.

Palermo responded well to the goal however, and David Di Michele had to be alert to parry Gianluca Curci's powerful effort just moments later.

But at the other end, Fontana was being kept busy and he had to make saves in quick succession from Simone Perrotta and Daniele De Rossi.

And Roma's pressure paid off as in the 36th minute they doubled their advantage.

Perrotta's inch-perfect cross was finished in style by Cassetti who sent the ball crashing past Fontana from close range to seal a splendid Roma counter-attack.

Palermo started the second half optimistically and Fabio Simplicio twice threatened the visitors' goal inside the first four minutes with measured headers.

Corini too, tried his luck with a free-kick, but his fizzing effort crept over the bar.

Roma offered little to the second period and appeared happy to sit back on their two-goal cushion, bringing off Totti to be replaced by Mirko Vucinic.

And they held off a spirited second-half Palermo performance until the 86th minute when Tedesco's shot was adjudged to have crossed the goal-line despite Philippe Mexes' last-ditch attempt to clear.

The goal was given, but proved academic, as Roma maintained their 11-point lead over third-placed Lazio to claim the second Champions League spot behind champions Internazionale.

Socceroo Mark Bresciano was frustrated in the match, being kept on the bench as an unused substitute for its duration.