Palermo 1 Brescia 0: Palermo grab narrow win

Posted Saturday, January 22, 2011 by PA

Palermo moved level on points with sixth-placed Juventus with a narrow but deserved 1-0 win over Brescia at the Stadio Renzo Barbera.

The hosts dominated possession against a Brescia team who had come for a point, but they had to wait until the 86th minute before finally making the breakthrough thanks to Cesare Bovo.

The siege began in the fifth minute with Javier Pastore testing Michele Arcari with a stinging shot from 20 yards.

Five minutes later, the Argentinian's header was tipped over for a corner by Brescia's busy number one.

Fabrizio Miccoli was next to test Arcari as he took advantage of a slip by Jonathan Zebina, but the goalkeeper was up to the challenge again to tip the ball behind.

On the stroke of half-time, Ezequiel Munoz's header bounced against the crossbar as the hosts continued to create chances.

The one-way traffic continued in the second half, although Andrea Caracciolo nearly stunned his former side as he curled a shot against the crossbar with Brescia's one and only attempt of the entire game.

Giulio Migliaccio's header was pushed behind in familiar fashion by Arcari, who was beaten in the 67th minute by Mattia Cassani's cross which rolled along the goal-line with no one able to turn it in.

Munoz saw another header from a corner cleared off the line before Bovo finally found the back of the net just when the Rosaneri were beginning to lose hope.

His free-kick left Arcari with no chance to earn Palermo a deserved three points and boost their European hopes.