Palermo 5 : 3 Genoa - Miccoli delivers Mutti's first win

Posted Sunday, January 22, 2012 by PA

Fabrizio Miccoli inspired Palermo to a 5-3 home win over Genoa, their first success in seven games, to halt their slide down the Serie A table.

The 32-year-old had a hand in four of the Sicilian side's goals against Genoa as coach Bortolo Mutti presided over a first victory since taking over the reins of the team last month.

Miccoli was joined on the scoresheet by Igor Budan, Matias Silvestre, Andrea Mantovani and Giulio Migliaccio, with Rodrigo Palacio (two) and Bosko Jankovic replying for Genoa.

After Josip Ilicic and Edgar Barreto had gone close for the hosts, Genoa shocked the Stadio Renzo Barbera in the 13th minute when Palacio netted from close range after a goalmouth scramble.

Miccoli shot just wide, Sebastien Frey saved well from Ilicic, then Silvestre headed wide as the home side sought an equaliser.

They got it in the 26th minute when Budan headed in Miccoli's ball from six yards out - and it was 2-1 to Palermo 11 minutes later when Silvestre headed in Ilicic's corner.

Worse was to follow five minutes later when Mantovani blasted in a third after an inviting cross from Miccoli.

Migliaccio saw a 49th-minute attempt saved before Genoa responded with efforts from Davide Biondini and Palacio which were narrowly off target.

Palacio got his second goal from the penalty spot just before the hour mark, after Federico Balzaretti had handled the ball in his own area.

But Palermo made it 4-2 15 minutes from time when Miccoli rounded Frey and provided a neat finish after Budan's ball had picked him out.

The points were safe five minutes from time when Migliaccio headed home Miccoli's free-kick from six yards.

Palacio brought a good save out of Palermo goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano four minutes from time after good work by Alberto Gilardino, then Juraj Kucka headed Jankovic's cross wide.

Cristobal Jorquera brought a save out of Viviano before Genoa were rewarded for their late enterprise when Jankovic got on the end of Andreas Granquist's header to score from close range - but their chance of taking anything out of the game had long since gone.

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