Palermo 1 : 1 Catania - Sicilians share the spoils

Posted Saturday, April 28, 2012 by PA

Palermo and Catania had to settle for a share of the spoils as a Sicilian derby ended 1-1 at the Stadio Renzo Barbera.

Nicola Legrottaglie put visitors Catania in front in the 25th minute as Vincenzo Montella's side dominated the first half.

Fabrizio Miccoli equalised soon after the break as the Rosaneri enjoyed the better of the second period of a match played in hot and humid conditions.

Alejandro Gomez missed the first chance of the game in the 10th minute and he had the first of several penalty appeals turned down in the 21st minute when he went down between two Palermo defenders.

Catania took a deserved lead in the 25th minute when Gomez's cross went all the way beyond the far post and appeared to be going out of play, but Pablo Barrientos' dive saw him not only manage to reach the ball, but head it back across goal to Legrottaglie, who nodded in from close range.

Both sides had penalty appeals waved away by the referee as Catania remained in control of the game up until the break half-time.

Palermo levelled early in the second half with Miccoli netting two minutes after the break.

His pace and excellent close control got him clear and he shot inside Carrizo's near post, with the Catania goalkeeper getting a weak hand to the ball on its way in.

The heat and late-season tiredness started to take their toll on the players with Barrientos the first to give in to the pain of cramp.

Catania's Nicolas Spolli also spent time off the field with Cristian Llama coming off less than a minute after coming on as a substitute after pulling his hamstring.

A mistake or a moment of brilliance was needed to change a game which was heading for a draw and Abel Hernandez almost provided it in the 81st minute when he sent an overhead kick against the outside of the post from six yards out.

He too left the field exhausted moments later before Josip Ilicic also came off as the game ended honours even.