Palermo's fans must feel that a victory is like waiting for a bus. Nothing since November, then two come at once. The latest win follows on from last weekend's defeat of AS Roma and moves the Sicilians closer to Serie A safety. A suggestion that seemed laughable last week has now become a real possibility.
Sampdoria vs Palermo, Final Score 1-3: The Sicilian great escape is still on
Palermo recorded their first away victory of the season, with a 3-1 victory over Sampdoria at the Marassi.
Steve Von Bergen put the away side ahead, before Gianni Munari equalised just before the break. A wonderful solo goal from Josip Ilicic restored Palermo's lead, before Salvatore Garcia added a third to seal the win. Garcia was only on the field after Andrea Dossena pulled out during the warm-up.
Delio Rossi faced his former employers without the suspended Andrea Poli. Palermo's Ezequiel Munoz also sat out a ban and first choice goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino was ill.
The game sparked into life halfway through the first half. Ilicic's solo run took him past three players, before he threaded through for Fabrizio Miccoli. The Pocket Rocket was clear on goal, but a poor touch saw the striker drag his shot too close to Sampdoria shot stopper Sergio Romero.
Edgar Barreto's screamer from 30 yards whistled just past the post, while at the other end, Mauro Icardi wasted Andrea Costa's cross, sending a tame free header into the ground from eight yards.
Ten minutes before the break, Palermo hit the front, albeit rather fortuitously. Von Bergen got to the byline to meet Miccoli’s free kick ahead of a hesitant Romero and caught the ball with his studs. The spin on the ball turned it back towards goal and finished in the net.
Sampdoria levelled two minutes before the break. Munari rose highest from a corner and cashed in with a free header.
Palermo dominated the second half and re-took the lead just five minutes in, thanks to a wonderful solo strike by Ilicic. The Slovenian playmaker dribbled past four players into the box and rode a couple of challenges, before stroking the ball past Romero from ten yards.
Eder sent a half volley over for the hosts, but it was the away side who struck the killer blow just short of the hour. Miccoli’s corner found an unmarked Garcia at the back post and he headed in from six yards.
Palermo could and really should have scored more. Miccoli was put through on goal, but just like the first half, fluffed his lines again, by sliding his shot the wrong side of the post. The Palermo captain then played Ilicic in, but after skipping past a few challenges, he couldn’t replicate his earlier goal and ballooned over from the edge of the box.
Garcia and Ilicic both pulled up late on and had to be substituted.
Sampdoria: Romero; Gastaldello (Mustafi 65), Palombo, Costa; De Silvestri, Munari, Soriano (Sansone 58), Obiang, Estigarribia (Maresca 72); Eder, Icardi
Palermo: Benussi; Von Bergen, Donati, Aronica; Morganella, Barreto, Arevalo Rios, Kurtic, Garcia (Nelson 72); Ilicic (Fabbrini 89), Miccoli (Dybala 66)
Goals: Von Bergen 35 (P) Munari 43 (S) Ilicic 50 (P) Garcia 57 (P)
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