By Anna Italia
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47% Ball Possession PALERMO and 53% Ball Possession FIORENTINA
    Palermo 2 – 3 Fiorentina  
26′ Mato Jajalo                     23′ Josip Ilicic
69′ Luca Rigoni                     33′ Alberto Gilardino
.                                                       78′ Marco Alonso

 

 

Serie A Standing BEFORE the game:
Palermo, 10th position with 46 points and a negative goal difference of -2
Fiorentina, 5th position with 58 points and a positive goal difference of +11

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	Goals	DIFF	Points
5	Fiorentina	36	16	10	10	55:44	11	58
10	Palermo	36	11	13	12	49:51	-2	46

 

 

Fiorentina  needed a victory to keep up the race towards a spot in the Europa League next season, and they won.  Palermo already saved to remain in Serie A.   Mission accomplished for Fiorentina forward Alberto Gilardino  scoring his 178th goal equalizing the record of Boniperti also with 178 goals.

It’s an emotional game.  Game starting with a minute of silence.    The initiative “Un calcio alla Mafia”promoted by Palermo President Maurizio Zamparini.  This is in memory of Judge Giovanni Falconi, Falcone’s wife Francesca Morvillo, and the 3 agents killed in the Capaci massacre organized by the mafia 23 years ago.

Also, before the game,   Zamparini giving special recognition to Argentinian forward Paulo Dybala before the game to thank him.   Dybala will be transferring to Juventus next season.  This is the goodbye and fans outpouring their support.

 

 

It is the ex Palermo midfielder Josip Ilicic to open the score in the 23rd minute defeating Palermo goalkeeper with a left footed shot in the top left corner.  The assist is by forward Mohamed Salah.  Ilicic visible moved does not celebrate the goal and it seems making a gesture asking for forgiveness.  It’s the 7th goal by Ilicic this season.

 

Here is Josip Ilicic lifting his hands indicating he does not want to celebrate the goal while his teammates go to congratulate him.

 

Ilicic here towards Palermo fans – his ex fans- with both hands lifted as a forgive me gesture…

 

Ilicic actually even in tears after his goal.  Wow, you bet Ilicic treasures the memories he had when playing for Palermo.

 

 

Fiorentina equalizing in the 26th minute with midfielder Jajalo defeating Palermo goalkeeper with a right footed shot in the top right corner.

 

Jajalo running to celebrate his equalizer goal.

 

In the 69th minute, there it is the equalizer goal!  It is Palermo midfielder Luca Rigoni to equalize with a right footed shot in the bottom left corner following a corner conceded by Fiorentina defender Stefan Savic.   The assist is by   Giancarlo Gonzalez.  It’s the 9th goal by Rigoni this season.

Luca Rigoni celebrating after equalizing for the 2-2

 

Palermo players congratulating Rigoni.

 

Fiorentina taking the lead again in the 78th minute with the goal by defender Marcos Alonso defeating goalkeeper Sorrentino with a left footed shot in the bottom left corner.  The headed assist is  by Alberto Gilardino.

 

 

Here is PALERMO official starting lineup by coach Giuseppe Iachini:

PALERMO (4-3-2-1): Sorrentino; Vitiello, González, Anđelković, Lazaar; Jajalo, Della Rocca, Rigoni; Quaison, Vazquez, Dybala.

Here is FIORENTINA official starting lineup by coach Vincenzo Montella:

FIORENTINA  (4-3-2-1): Neto; Tomovic, Savic, G. Rodriguez, Pasqual; M. Fernandez, Pizarro, Kurtic; Ilicic, Salah; Gilardino.

 

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Stats BEFORE the game.  Top scorer of PALERMO:  Forward Paulo Dybala with 13 goals

Top scorer of FIORENTINA:  Khouma Babacar and Gonzalo Rodriguez with 7 goals each

Palermo	Goals	Goals	Fiorentina
Dybala, Paulo Bruno	13	7	Babacar, Khouma
Vazquez, Franco	9	7	Rodriguez, Gonzalo
Rigoni, Luca	9	6	Salah, Mohamed
Belotti, Andrea	5	7	Ilicic, Josip
Chochev, Ivaylo	3	4	Cuadrado, Juan

 

Here are the last 3 games of PALERMO:  1 win, 1 draw, 1 lost

17/05/15	SA	Cagliari – Palermo				0:1	Round 36
10/05/15	SA	Palermo – Atalanta				2:3	Round 35
02/05/15	SA	Sassuolo – Palermo				0:0	Round 34

 

Here are the last 3 games of FIORENTINA:  2 wins, 1 lost

18/05/15	SA	Fiorentina – Parma				3:0	Round 36
14/05/15	UELK	Fiorentina – FC Sevilla				0:2	Semifinal
10/05/15	SA	Empoli – Fiorentina				2:3	Round 35

 

Disciplinary Situation BEFORE the game.  1 suspended player for PALERMO: Chochev (1)

1 suspended player for FIORENTINA: Diamanti (1)

 

 

Photos courtesy of palermocalcio.it

 

Paulo Dybala with the special shirt “Un calcio alla mafia”

 

Palermo president hugging Dybala to wish him luck now with his new team.

 

 

 

Palermo players with their children before the game saluting the fans in the last home game at the Renzo Barbera Stadium

 

 

Palermo and Fiorentina teams during the 1 minute silence in memory of Giovanni Falcone, Francesca, and the 3 agents killed during the Carpaci massacre.

 

 

 

 

Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Montella seeming as “directing the orchestra” to defeat Palermo….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2014 – 2015 Italian Serie A Week 37

Palermo 2 – 3 Fiorentina
Sunday 24 May 2015
Renzo Barbera Stadium
Palermo, Italy

15:00

Referee: GIACOMELLI
Assistants: GAVA – TASSO
Fourth Official: IORI
ADD1: MASSA
ADD2: PAIRETTO

Goals: 23′ Josip Ilicic  (F), 26′ Mato Jajalo (P), 33′ Alberto Gilardino (F), 69′ Luca Rigoni (P), 78′ Marcos Alonso (F)

Official formations – lineups:

PALERMO (4-3-2-1): Sorrentino; Vitiello, González, Anđelković, Lazaar; Jajalo, Della Rocca, Rigoni; Quaison, Vazquez, Dybala.

Subs: Ujkani, Fulignati, Rispoli, Milanovic, Joao Silva, Emerson, Terzi, Ortiz, Maresca, Daprelà, Bentivegna, Belotti.

Coach.: Iachini.

FIORENTINA  (4-3-2-1): Neto; Tomovic, Savic, G. Rodriguez, Pasqual; M. Fernandez, Pizarro, Kurtic; Ilicic, Salah; Gilardino.

Subs.: Tatarusanu, Richards, Badelj, Vargas, Aquilani, Joaquin, Basanta, Borja Valero, Alonso, Bernardeschi, Gomez, Rosi.

Coach:  Vincenzo Montella

Match Stats

 

Palermo	Match Stats	Fiorentins
2	Goals	3
9(5)	Shots (on goal)	10(4)
16	Fouls	17
7	Corner kicks	8
4	Offsides	3
47%	Ball  Possession	53%
2	Yellow Cards	3
0	Red Cards	1
1	Saves	3