Palermo 1 - 0 Fiorentina
Di Michele 53 (P)
Stadio Barbera

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Luca Toni was frustrated on his return to the Stadio Barbera, as
David Di Michele boosted Roma's hopes of catching Fiorentina in
fourth place.

Toni faced a heated atmosphere when he returned to Sicily, where he
had scored 50 goals in two seasons. The Rosanero fans have not been
quiet in their bitterness at his departure and jeered him every time
he touched the ball.

Palermo were without the injured Eugenio Corini, Massimo Mutarelli
and Christian Terlizzi, while Champions League chasing Fiorentina
had Dario Dainelli sidelined.

Stefano Fiore sparked a good early move, but Luis Jimenez tried to
set up Toni instead of going for goal and the chance went begging.

Bogdan Lobont almost made a costly error under pressure from
Tedesco, but the Palermo midfielder had to go off with an injury
soon after.

A weak Martin Jorgensen attempt was comfortably closed down by
Federico Agliardi.

Fiorentina went very close to an opening goal with Luca Toni in
first half stoppages, as his header was stopped short by the
crossbar on Jorgensen's curling cross.

Kewullay Conteh's error almost set up Jorgensen after the break, but
it was Palermo who took the lead.

David Di Michele sprung the offside trap on Franco Brienza's through
ball, as the Viola defence was caught napping, and he subtly slid
his finish into the far corner past Lobont.

The former Ajax goalkeeper prevented a second Rosanero goal with a
fantastic save on Di Michele's shot heading for the top corner.

In a bid to get back into the game, Cesare Prandelli introduced
Valeri Bojinov for Jorgensen.

Per Kroldrup's header from a corner was not far wide of the upright,
then Bojinov's glancing touch on a Pasqual free kick nearly turned
in at the back post.

A corner kick was cleared to the edge of the area, where Stefano
Fiore's piledriver was deflected over the bar.

Agliardi was ready for Bojinov's strike on a Jimenez assist, while
the Chilean fired over from the edge of the area.

A corner kick reached Jimenez from eight yards, but he lost his
footing and couldn't make the most of the opportunity.


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Palermo: Agliardi; Zaccardo, Rinaudo, Barzagli, Grosso; Tedesco
(Conteh 26), Santana, Barone; Di Michele, Brienza (Accardi 68);
Godeas (Gonzalez 82)

Fiorentina: Lobont; Ujfalusi, Gamberini, Kroldrup, Pasqual; Fiore,
Brocchi, Donadel (Montolivo 69), Jorgensen (Bojinov 57); Jimenez;
Toni

Ref: Trefoloni



Interview with Luca : http://www.acffiorentina.it/images/103693.wmv