Palermo defeated Chievo 1-0 at the Stadio Renzo Barbera in Serie A on Sunday afternoon, easing the pressure on under-fire coach Giuseppe Iachini.
Alberto Gilardino scored the solitary goal in the second half in a match where the away side created a number of scoring chances.
Chievo dominated possession in the first 15 minutes while Palermo struggled to hit on the break. Valter Birsa volleyed the ball over the bar, and Lucas Castro had two chances to score, particularly with a header which just went wide at the near post.
The Flying Donkeys were unable to get the final ball right after that period while the Rosanero continued to struggle despite the creative efforts of Enzo Maresca and Franco Vazquez. Achraf Lazaar and Robin Quaison fired shots over the bar for Palermo before Lazaar came off with an injury. Chievo midfielder Perparim Hetemaj also had a shot fly over the bar at the end of the first half.
Palermo improved their possession play in the second half. Gilardino nearly finished off a well-worked team move but his shot was easily dealt with by Chievo goalkeeper Albano Bizzarri.
Roberto Inglese played a great through-ball to Alberto Paloschi, who missed the target with just Sorrentino to beat. Ivaylo Chochev played a one-two with Vazquez and his shot was deflected for a corner and then Quaison forced an excellent finger-tip save from Bizzarri.
Gilardino gave Palermo the lead after 71 minutes when Vazquez’s corner from the left was headed at goal by Sinisa Andelkovic and then the veteran striker headed the ball in from right in front of goal.
Chievo introduced Sergio Pellissier and Simone Pepe in search of the equaliser but both substitutes had their efforts stopped by a superb Sorrentino.
The win puts Palermo in 12th place on 14 points, one more than the Flying Donkeys.
