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Palermo Stun Roma In Four Goal Thriller
Palermo 3-1 RomaA Fabrizio Miccoli brace and an Edison Cavani strike saw the Sicilian's mount an excellent comeback after going a goal down to Julio Baptista's early opener.

Palermo started slowly but then they turned up the heat as they ran out comfortable winners over a Roma side who seemed to have their minds elsewhere. Stunning goals and nonstop action were the order of the day and Davide Ballardini's arrival seems to have set the Sicilians on their way. The Rosanero impressed their new boss in style and picked up some much needed points.
Roma coach Luciano Spalletti started with Julio Baptista up front, preferring to keep Mirko Vucinic on the bench, perhaps with the Champions League against Cluj next week in mind. Palermo came into the game eager to impress new boss Davide Ballardini and the pressure was on to perform.

First Half

The game got off to a frantic start as both teams tried to take an early lead. Cicinho was doing all the early running for the Giallorossi down on the flank. The Brazilian’s crossing however was not up to scratch as he fluffed consecutive passing during the first few minutes.

Marco Amelia was in for a busy afternoon in the Palermo goal as a rampant Roma side showed no signs of letting up. The Italian number two had to make a smart save from a Cicinho drive as Roma kept on edging closer to goal. Maurizio Zamparini must have been nervous early on and his new coach Ballardini even more so as the away team took the game by the scruff of the neck.
John Arne Riise won a free kick and Julio Baptista stepped up. The former Real Madrid hit-man smashed his fierce shot towards goal and, once again, it was Amelia who stopper the ball from hitting the back of the net as his arm appeared from nowhere to tip the ball onto the post.

Alberto Aquilani followed up with a superb effort but Amelia saved. The Giallorossi didn’t have to wait long for the opener however and it was Baptista who gave his side the lead. Alberto Aquilani fed Okaka who touched the ball on for the Brazilian who finished off from close range.
Antonio Nocerino thought he had levelled but his goal was disallowed for offside after Simplicio put him through. Roma’s lead lasted 12 minutes as Fabrizio Miccoli fired his team level with a trademark strike. The pint-sized striker hit a sublime effort from the edge of the box and into the top-corner, leaving Doni with no chance.

The goal was of the highest class and it was just what the game needed. The Rosanero sprang into life as Ballardini continued to scream instructions from the bench. Simplicio should have doubled the lead when he was clean through on goal but the Brazilan was thwarted by Doni, who injured his hand in the process, but he was able to continue.
Daniele De Rossi’s game ended early however as he came off with a neck problem and was replaced by Matteo Brighi.

Second Half

The second period seemed to have lost its rhythm slightly as both teams began cautiously. Baptista was once again on the hunt and he took advantage from Balzaretti’s mistake but the Brazilian couldn’t beat Amelia in goal. Palermo began to raise their game and it was Miccoli who popped up with his second 11 minutes into the second half with another well taken goal.
Simplicio won possession and he released the striker who ran in on goal and beat Doni with a razor sharp diagonal strike.The Sicilians were playing some superb football and they kept coming forward as they tried to further their advantage.
The goal prompted Luciano Spalletti into action as he threw on Jeremy Menez in place of Rodrigo Taddei to give the Giallorossi more weight up front. Davide Ballardini reacted and he introduced Davide Lannzafame to the fray in place of Miccoli as he tried to defend the team’s lead. Roma began coming forwards as Palermo stepped off the gas.
Riise and Aquilani both had some superb efforts but it was Amelia who rescued his side with consecutive saves. The Sicilian’s changed strategy and they sat back to soak up the pressure and hit their opponents on the break.

The change in tactics worked as Simplicio fed Cavani through with a perfect through ball. The striker stayed on-side, rounded Doni and slid the ball home as his sent went on the rampage. It was turning out to be a real nightmare for Roma as they just didn’t have a reply.
The home side were outstanding and the crowd was going wild every time their team came forward. Roma tried to reply but the team seemed down and out following the third goal. Montella came on for Okaka who hadn’t done much but he wasn’t really able to produce any magic as the clock ticked on.

Teams
Palermo 4-3-1-2: Amelia; Cassani, Carozzieri, Bovo, Balzaretti; Bresciano, Liverani(Guana), Nocerino, Simplico; Cavani, Miccoli(Lanzafame). Subs: Fontana, Raggi, Dellafiore, Tedesco, Guana, Lanzafame, Succi.

Roma 4-2-3-1: Doni; Cicinho, Panucci, Loria, Riise; De Rossi(Brighi), Pizzaro, Taddei(Menez), Aqulani, Okaka(Montella); Baptista. Subs: Arthur, Cassetti, Brighi, Menez, Vucinic, Tonetto, Montella.
Goals: Baptista(Roma), Miccoli x 2(Palermo), Cavani(Palermo).
Cards:Taddei(Yellow/Roma), Bresciano(Yellow/Palermo)
Referee: Saccani