Palermo’s promotion aspirations faced a tough examination this weekend, with a trip to face a resurgent Pescara. However, the Rosanero passed with flying colours thanks to a late winner from Andrea Belotti.
A run of two wins and a draw had boosted the Delfini’s own hopes of a return to Serie A, but a superb start saw the league leaders take a deserved lead inside the opening quarter of an hour, with Paulo Dybala steering home from close range.
Having failed to build on their early dominance, Palermo were pegged back early in the second half as Pescara, no doubt still reeling from a half time dressing down from new coach Serse Cosmi, emerged with renewed vigour.
Advancing up the right flank, a deep cross from Simone Salviato caught the Palermo defence completely off guard and found Giuseppe Mascara racing towards the back post, the substitute heading home with aplomb having timed his run perfectly.
Palermo have discovered the winning habit in recent weeks though, and after Kyle Lafferty had tested the reflexes of Pescara keeper Ivan Pelizzoli with a dipping effort from distance, Belotti headed home what proved to be the game’s decisive goal.
On this evidence, Pescara can be confident of mounting a serious push for a play-off place despite the defeat. As for Palermo, with four wins in a row now for Giuseppe Iachini’s troops, a swift return to the top flight is looking more of an inevitability with each passing week.
Elsewhere, Empoli returned to winning ways in some style with a 4-0 rout of Reggina that tightened their grip on second place. Ahead inside the 11th minute thanks to Massimo Maccarone’s header, the Tuscans were out of sight by half time thanks to a fine brace from Manuel Pucciarelli and a Daniele Rugani header.
There were mixed results for the chasing pack meanwhile. Virtus Lanciano came from behind to salvage a 1-1 draw at Ternana, while Cesena reclaimed fourth place with a 1-0 win over bottom side Juve Stabia. Trapani were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Varese, while Crotone missed the chance to go fourth having been held to a goalless draw by Bari.
Siena moved into the play-off places with a 1-0 win over Avellino, a result that would have seen the Tuscan side sitting pretty in second were it not for the seven points worth of deductions accumulated throughout the season.
Latina stay eighth but suffered their biggest defeat of the season with a 4-0 reversal away at Modena, while Spezia closed to within two points of a play-off place with a 2-0 win away at struggling Brescia.
Towards the bottom of the table, Novara picked up a vital 1-0 win over Carpi courtesy of Daniele Buzzegoli’s second half penalty, but Padova look increasingly destined to be playing Lega Pro football next season after they were routed 4-0 at home by relegation rivals Cittadella.
