Palermo grabbed a last-gasp Bosko Jankovic winner at Mlada Boleslav’s tiny Mestsky Stadion in Stefano Colantuono’s European debut.

Bolselav can count themselves unlucky after they had the better of the game looking for a scalp to add to their victory over Marseille last term.

Colantuono decided to start Uruguayan striking starlet Edison Cavani alongside Franco Brienza, with Serie A starters Fabrizio Miccoli and Amauri on the bench.

The Sicilians took time to play their way into the game against a side sitting ninth in the Czech Gambrinius Liga.

Neither side provided much momentum, but the Czechs enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and Palermo goalkeeper Federico Agliardi had to be alert to gather ahead of the advancing Jan Kysela on 18 minutes.

Alexander Mendy gave the Aquile back line some headaches before Cavani’s long pass was intercepted by Boleslav ‘keeper Miroslav Miller.

Just before the break Serbian starlet Jankovic swung over an inch-perfect cross only for Giovanni Tedesco to miss the target with his header.

With just seconds left before the interval, Mlada nearly took the lead when the dangerous Mendy broke clear, but the Frenchman fired wide.

The hosts looked more positive at the start of the second period and were nearly ahead within minutes as Giulio Migliaccio was dispossesed on the edge of his own box, but Ivo Taborsky's shot was lacking.

Jankovic wasted a half-chance from a Brienza ball and Boleslav nearly pounced on the break through Taborsky, but his ball was too well hit for Kysela.

The Czechs continued to look confident in their first ever game against Italian opposition and Cristian Zaccardo did well to shut down Mendy in the 64th minute.

As the pace of the game dropped, Colantuono sent on Brazilian hitman Amauri in place of the quiet Mark Bresciano.

However, it was the Czechs who nearly broke the deadlock when Kysela grazed the post with a header.

Spurred into action, the newly arrived Amauri had Palermo's first shot on target after 78 minutes, but it was easily caught by Miller.

However, it was short-lived and the Italians stayed pinned back until the 89th minute when substitute Fabio Caserta was left one-on-one with Miller, but his fierce effort was straight at the Boleslav custodian.

Just as a draw seemed certain, Palermo got the crucial goal as Caserta redeemed himself with a dazzling run down the left-wing and crossed for Jankovic to net at the back post.

Palermo are in control of the tie, but they made very hard work of it.

Mlada Boleslav: Miller; Vorisek, Rolko, Kopic, Hrdlicka; Mendy (Kalina 68), Matejovsky, Rajnoc, Sediacek; Taborsky (Reznicek 89), Kysela

Palermo: Agliardi; Diana, Rinaudo, Barzagli, Zaccardo; Bresciano (Amauri 67), Tedesco (Simplicio 87), Migliaccio, Jankovic; Brienza (Caserta 57), Cavani

Ref: Kinhöfer (Ger)