Palermo won a spectacular Sicily derby 5-3 against newcomers Catania on Wednesday, giving them a perfect nine points to lead in the Italian Serie A after a pulsating midweek round.
In another big match, Inter Milan edged hosts Roma 1-0 to leapfrog them in the standings, advancing to seven points from three games and remaining level with minnows Messina, who won 2-0 over troubled Reggina in a southern-Italy derby.
Palermo fell behind after 26 minutes at the brimming Renzo Barbera stadium in a derby that had last been played 43 years ago in the Serie A.
Giorgio Corona put Catania ahead, firing home from inside the area, but Giovanni Tedesco leveled two minutes later flicking home off a goal-mouth scramble.
The goals from the two Palermo-born players were followed immediately after the break by a long-range shot from Brazilian Simplicio, who reversed the score for Palermo by surprising the dithering goalkeeper Armando Pantanelli.
Another good effort from Corona was deflected wide before a blunder by keeper Federico Agliardi allowed Giuseppe Mascara to equalize for Catania on 64 minutes through a weak long-range shot.
A spot kick converted by captain Eugenio Corini on 66 minutes gave Palermo a lead then beefed up by goals from Brazilian Amauri and Andrea Barzagli, while Catania's Gionatha Spinesi closed the scoring with a free kick.
"This is something magical that we would like to freeze, but life goes on," Palermo coach Francesco Guidolin said. "This is a historic moment for Palermo. It is great to be alone at the top. It is right to compliment Catania, who played a great first half, them we played our game."
A goal from Hernan Crespo closed Inter's win at Rome's Stadio Olimpico, where Roma were the first to threaten in a fast-paced start through a seventh-minute free kick from captain Totti, which Brazil's keeper Julio Cesar somehow managed to save with his feet.
Marco Materazzi also saved Inter with a goal-line clearance on a dangerous lob from Brazilian Mancini, who quit with an injury on 25 minutes, while Max Tonetto came close on 31 minutes when his smashing volley off a corner kick was blocked by defenders.
Roma's good chances, however, were not worth Crespo's daring shot which put Inter one up on 44 minutes from an incredibly tight angle, though it also had an involuntary deflection from Brazilian keeper Alexander Doni to thank.
Two chances to secure the win went begging for Inter as Zlatan Ibrahimovic had a spot kick saved and Javier Zanetti hit the post before Patrick Vieira was dismissed for a second yellow card with two minutes left.
In other results, Siena won 2-1 at promoted Torino to tie Roma on six points, one more than promoted Atalanta and Empoli, who drew 0-0 in Bergamo. Sampdoria clawed back a 3-3 draw after falling three down to guests Udinese and Cagliari drew 2-2 at home to Livorno.
Fiorentina beat Parma 1-0 for a first win on the season, bringing to minus 16 points the deficit received in the match-fixing trial, while AC Milan overcame their eight-point penalization by winning 1-0 over lowly Ascoli, giving the club one point on the season.
Lazio, also penalized, lie on minus eight after winning 1-0 at Chievo Verona, while Reggina lie on minus 12.
After letting another big lead slip with an error-strewn performance at the French Open on Wednesday, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka felt like getting as far away from the courts as possible. “Just want to quit tennis right now,” Sabalenka said after wasting a lead of a set and two breaks in a 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 loss to Diana Shnaider in the women’s singles quarter-finals. “We’ll see in few days. Hopefully I’ll get back on track mentally.” Sabalenka’s wait for a first French Open title continues despite the four-time major winner leading 4-1 in the second set and being two points from victory while
BIG NAMES GONE: Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title, reaching semi-finals for the fifth time in six years and finishing second on three occasions Alexander Zverev on Tuesday breezed past Rafael Jodar to stay on course for an elusive Grand Slam title at the French Open, while Jakub Mensik halted Joao Fonseca’s scintillating run in the quarter-finals. Zverev, the highest-ranked player left in the men’s draw, put an end to Spanish teenager Jodar’s impressive Roland Garros debut, easing into the semi-finals with a 7-6, (7/3), 6-1, 6-3 win. The 29-year-old Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title. He has finished runner-up on three occasions, including at the 2024 French Open. “I want to win the matches that are ahead of
Liverpool are in advanced talks with former AFC Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola as they seek a replacement for Arne Slot, reports said on Tuesday. Iraola has emerged as Liverpool’s top target to replace Slot, who was sacked on Saturday last week after a turbulent second season in charge. Liverpool have reportedly agreed a deal in principle to bring the Spaniard, who left Bournemouth at the end of this season, to Anfield. Sporting director Richard Hughes was heavily involved in hiring Iraola during his time at Bournemouth and is again spearheading the recruitment of the highly rated coach. The Reds are
US President Donald Trump said he would attend Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday at Madison Square Garden, but said he does not have much sympathy for ordinary basketball fans who cannot afford sky-high ticket prices to do the same. “They can watch it on television,” Trump said aboard Air Force One on Friday as he flew to Wisconsin for an event with farmers, after he was asked about tickets that have climbed as high as US$8,000 each when the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs square off in Manhattan for the first time in the series. “It’s sorta
RSS