Things looked like they were heading for another magical Sunday. Josip Ilicic had once again lifted the spirits of the Rosanero faithful after giving the team the lead in the 4th minute of their match against Bologna. A sumptuous give-and-go between the Slovenian and Fabrizio Miccoli resulted in a long range effort from Ilicic, giving Palermo an early 1-0 lead.
It was the ideal start in front of the near 27,000 fans that filled the Renzo Barbera last Sunday. After two consecutive victories over Roma and Sampdoria, enthusiasm has once again permeated through the stands after months of despair and resignation to the fact that the Rosanero could actually be relegated.
Things looked like they were heading towards another great result, when things changed in the 17th minute. Bologna drew level thanks to a Manolo Gabbiadini goal. Hardly a shocking moment considering Palermo’s tendency to give away leads throughout the course of the season. However, it was the manner in which the goal was conceded that raised a few eyebrows.
Michel Morganella sent a backwards pass to the ever reliable Stefano Sorrentino. An innocuous play that happens countless of times over the course of a match, and one that Sorrentino has dealt with effectively throughout his long and heralded career. For whatever reason on this Sunday, the 34-year-old came off his line and seemed intent on picking up the pass with his hands. An obvious no-no.
There isn’t much to do but hold your hands up when even the ever reliable Stefano Sorrentino makes a costly mistake.
Once he realized he would not be able to pick up the ball, Sorrentino fell over. Caught between two minds as the opportunistic Gabbiadini closed down on him, Sorrentino slumped over as the ball went between his legs. It became apparent that things would not end well, and they didn’t as the Under 21 striker was left with a gaping net in front of him as he easily slotted the ball in for the equalizer.
Mistakes can happen and do happen throughout the course of a match, but you would be hard pressed to think of a time when the highly rated Sorrentino committed such a gross error. Since joining in January from Chievo, the goalkeeper has been a standout performer for his new club. In a transfer window that has provided few bright spots, Sorrentino’s arrival is undoubtedly the highlight of ex-director Pietro Lo Monaco’s work in January.
Reliable and steady between the posts, Sorrentino’s influence has brought a sense of calm to a Palermo backline that has rode the wave of inconsistency this season. His shot stopping abilities have been on full display and have brought home several points for the Rosanero in matches where they looked likely to head home with nothing but disappointment.
Maurizio Zamparini remarked that Sorrentino “had probably never committed such a mistake in his career”, which is probably correct. It is for that reason that Sorrentino shouldn’t be unduly criticized for his mistake. The fact he immediately apologized to the fans shows that Sorrentino himself was upset by the mistake.
Goals in three straight for Josip Ilicic have pushed Palermo back into the relegation battle. Fans will be hoping he makes it four straight against rivals Catania on Sunday.
With the season edging closer to it’s conclusion, everyone who follows Palermo is aware of how precarious their situation is and how fatal one mistake could be to their chances of remaining in the Serie A. In a season that has been filled with errors on and outside of the pitch, it would be wrong to prosecute a player for his first real mistake since joining the club, despite it coming at the most inopportune of times.
This weekend sees the Rosanero travel to Catania for the Derby di Sicilia. The first encounter saw Palermo put on an impressive display as they won the match 3-1 thanks to the usual duo of Ilicic and Miccoli. Catania will be looking to avenge that defeat and keep their slim chances of European qualification alive. Add that to the fact that a victory could well and truly put a damper on Palermo’s chances of staying up, and Sunday’s match will surely be a heated affair under the warm Sicilian sun that could be this the Serie A’s most interesting tie of the weekend.
Follow Adriano Boin on Twitter: @Boin44
