|
Amauri's last-gasp goal saw the points shared in this spectacular six-goal thriller.
This fixture returned to the Serie A calendar after 45 years with both teams desperate for points. The last time these two sides met in the top flight, Genoa ran out 5-0 winners on November 18, 1962. Palermo made this trip without Fabrizio Miccoli, Mark Bresciano and Giulio Migliaccio, but hoped to end their streak of four straight draws, while the Rossoblu had just one point from their last three outings.
It was Palermo who opened the scoring after a defensive error from the Grifone. They were distracted on a throw-in, so Fabio Simplicio went clear at the byeline to cut back for Edison Cavani's tap-in.
Alberto 'Jimmy' Fontana had his palms burned by an absolute missile from Julio Cesar Leon and the goalkeeper was also tested by Abdoullay Konko's half-volley at the back post.
At the other end, Rubinho had to deal with a Simplicio counter-attack, but Marco Rossi should have hit the net with a free header following Fontana's flap at a curling Leon corner.
Marco Borriello was correctly booked for simulation and will be suspended for next week's game, but he was furious moments later when he felt Zaccardo had tripped him as he went to shoot on the counter. He scuffed the ball and Ciro Capuano came flying in to clear off the line from Bovo.
Fontana courageously took the sting out of a Leon piledriver and bravely flung himself at the loose ball to prevent Borriello netting on the rebound. The veteran goalkeeper flew to palm a Giuseppe Sculli curler out of the far top corner, as the first half turned into a siege on the Palermo goal.
After the restart Genoa continued to dominate, as Leon's screamer was deflected on to the roof of the net off Andrea Barzagli and Fontana performed a desperate one-handed save on a Juric chest and strike from the edge of the area.
The Rossoblu finally snatched a deserved equaliser thanks to Leon's inch-perfect free kick curled right into the near top corner where Fontana could not reach.
Yet Palermo were always dangerous on the break and Rubinho bravely rushed out to smother the ball at Cavani's feet. Rosanero director Rino Foschi felt they deserved a penalty for Bovo's challenge and was sent off for dissent.
Leon turned the game around completely. The Honduran was kept onside by Zaccardo from Marco Di Vaio's through ball and the finish took a deflection off Capuano to loop over the helpless Fontana.
Palermo drew level against the run of play, substitute Franco Brienza coming on and almost immediately got his head to a Fabio Simplicio free kick. It was a controversial goal, though, as Genoa were angry that Cavani had kept going to earn the free kick when Bovo was on the ground next to him injured.
It was a thoroughly entertaining match at Marassi and Genoa went 3-2 up. Borriello sprung the offside trap and picked his corner precisely to stroke in with the inside of his left foot.
It still wasn't over, as in stoppages Simplicio's free kick floated over the defence for Amauri's header, taking advantage of a mistaken rush off his line by Rubinho.
It could have been 4-3 to Genoa, but Omar Milanetto didn't get enough power on the shot and it was smothered by Fontana.
| 
