Palermo 2 : 4 Fiorentina - Viola hit four in Palermo win

Fiorentina twice came from behind to win a six-goal thriller against Palermo at the Stadio Renzo Barbera.

Javier Pastore put the home team in front in the seventh minute, but Alberto Gilardino levelled 10 minutes before the break.

Antonio Nocerino restored Palermo's advantage in the 48th minute, but Michele Camporese levelled again in the 70th minute before an own goal from Cesare Bovo and a Riccardo Montolivo strike earned all three points for the Viola.

Palermo went ahead with their first attack as Josip Ilicic squared the ball to Pastore, who picked his spot inside the near post from 15 yards.

Fiorentina then took control of the game, creating several gilt-edged chances to level.

Gilardino missed two openings in the 18th minute, first dragging his shot wide of the far post and then shooting straight at Salvatore Sirigu after being put through on goal on each occasion.

He made it third time lucky in the 36th minute to deservedly bring the Viola level, heading in Valeri Behrami's lofted ball at the far post.

Palermo started the second half like they had started the first with an early goal. Miccoli chipped the ball to the far post where Nocerino headed in.

This time, though, Palermo did not sit on their lead but instead looked for a third.

Ilicic nearly beat Artur Boruc in the 65th minute as the Rosaneri pushed forward, but they neglected their defensive duties as they allowed Camporese to score his first goal in Serie A in the 70th minute to level for the second time.

Montolivo then sent a 30-yard effort against the post before Bovo inadvertently diverted Adam Ljajic's cross into his own goal to give Fiorentina the lead for the first time in the match.

Palermo responded well and Camporese nearly scored an own goal before Afriyie Acquah's header from six yards bounced over the crossbar.

As the home side committed men forward in search of an equaliser, Fiorentina broke to seal the win with substitute Ljajic again providing the assist for Montolivo, who placed the ball into the bottom corner from 15 yards.

Palermo's misfortune was typified by Abel Hernandez's shot against the crossbar in the 89th minute although their fans still applauded their efforts at the end of an entertaining encounter.