Monday, March 8, 2010

Palermo 1-0 Livorno


Palermo moved back to fourth in Serie A after a narrow win over Livorno.

Italian striker Fabrizio Miccoli scored the only goal of the game nine minutes from time to bring the Renzo Barbera stadium to life and hand his side their third straight triumph.

The result sees the Sicilian giants leapfrog Juventus and move into the Champions League qualifying spot, two points clear of the Turin giants.

Livorno coach Serse Cosmi will be disappointed with the result as his team looked to be holding on for a point before Miccoli struck the winner.

The result leaves the Amaranto in 18th place, three points from Lazio, who hold the last position of safety.

Delio Rossi's side went into the game on the back of two straight triumphs and eager to maintain their unbeaten run at La Favorita this season.

The hosts dominated possession in the opening stages but struggled to break Livorno's defence.

Palermo enjoyed the first chance on 13 minutes when Javier Pastore's diagonal effort from the edge of the area went just wide of Livorno goalkeeper Rubinho's far post.

Shortly after, Rubinho repelled Miccoli's powerful strike towards the near post, while midway through first half, Antonio Filippini made a vital clearance from Cesare Bovo's dangerous cross with Miccoli waiting inside the area.

On the half-hour mark, Palermo wasted a good chance to break the deadlock. Edison Cavani latched onto Bovo's cross from the right and his header narrowly missed the far post.

Palermo continued to press forward and Miccoli almost gave his team a deserved lead in the 40th minute. The Italian striker got behind Antonio Nocerino's pass but his strike from the distance was met by a fine save from Rubinho.

Livorno enjoyed their first opportunity on the stroke of half-time, Mozart's left-footed volley from 20 yards sailing over the bar with Palermo goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu beaten.

The hosts continued to press forward after the re-start and twice had the chance to break the deadlock. Nocerino struck wide from a good position while shortly after, Pastore's close-range effort from Miccoli's pass was parried away by Rubinho.

In the 57th minute, Livorno had a chance to make Palermo pay for their missed chances. Mozart played in Cristiano Lucarelli but his left-footed shot from the edge of the area went wide.

On the hour mark, Rubinho was forced to stretch fully to clear Cavani's 15-yard strike.

Livorno wasted a great chance to go in front in the 72nd minute. Fabio Liverani made a goal line clearance from Dario Knezevic's header with Sirigu already beaten.

Just when Livorno were playing at their best, Palermo struck. Substitute Nicolas Bertolo found Miccoli inside the area and the forward struck towards the bottom right corner beyond Rubinho.

With five minutes remaining, Bertolo almost doubled his team's lead but his right-footed touch went over the bar.

In the final minute, Mozart wasted a good chance to level the score when he fired high and wide from the edge of the area.

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