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Parma ended their crisis with a potentially decisive victory over the only team in worse shape - Livorno falling to a fifth straight defeat.
This was a relegation six-pointer between a side whose patience with Coach Domenico Di Carlo was wearing thin and a team that had already sacked Nando Orsi and brought in Giancarlo Camolese. The Livorno boss hoped for an improvement on his debut, a 1-0 loss to 10-man Lazio, but was still without Jose Luis Vidigal, Giuliano Giannichedda and David Balleri.
It was an ex-Livorno player who gave Parma the lead from a set-piece. Bernardo Corradi should have scored only to hit a fresh air shot, but the ball feel kindly for Stefano Morrone's header from close range.
Corradi held up the ball for Reginaldo and the Brazilian nodded over, but Livorno equalised with Francesco Tavano's second goal of the season. Nico Pulzetti sparked the move with a central run and Tavano lobbed into the far top corner with a curling finish.
Straight after the restart the referee pointed to the spot for a Massimo Paci handling offence as he anticipated Erjon Bogdani. Tavano stepped up and kept his cool to bury the penalty and give Livorno the lead.
Paci made up for the error by equalising moments later. A corner kick found three Parma players unmarked from six yards and it was Paci who got the decisive header.
Tavano nearly got his hat-trick, as Luca Bucci turned his effort on to the upright from David Balleri's cross.
The tension rose at the Tardini with a scuffle between Fernando Couto and Bogdani. It got even worse when substitute Domenico Morfeo got involved and seemed to claw at Bogdani's face. All involved were fortunate to escape with only a booking.
Corradi hit the back of the net from Luca Cigarini's assist, but the goal was correctly disallowed for an offside position.
Parma went 3-2 with a controversial goal. Reginaldo may or may not have kept the ball in at the byeline when he crossed for a Morfeo diving header at the back post.
Livorno's nightmare continued in stoppages with a red card for De Vezze as he kicked out at Morfeo.
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