Japan midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura's Reggina got a much-needed boost in its battle to avoid the drop by beating Bologna 1-0 at home in the Italian first division Saturday.
National teammate Hidetoshi Nakata also had a good day at the office but was unlucky to see a superb goal disallowed as Parma ran out a 2-0 winner at home to Empoli.
A 15th-minute strike from Gianluca Savoldi provided Reggina with only its third win of the season and it was only some inspired goalkeeping from Gianluca Pagliuca that prevented Nakamura and his team from winning by a bigger margin.
Earlier in the day, goals from 20-year-old Alberto Gilardino and Romanian striker Adrian Mutu gave Parma a comfortable victory and moved it up to seventh in the table.
Empoli rarely threatened the Parma goal and Nakata thought he had doubled the home side's advantage in the 65th minute with a fine volley, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.