Veteran Tedesco notches brace for Palermo

Palermo now lie joint-sixth on 18 points with Atalanta, who host AC Milan Sunday in a regional derby, and leapfrogged Sampdoria, who earlier Saturday beat Empoli 3-0 for a 17-point tally from 12 games.

 A pulsating, albeit goalless first half entertained the crowd at the Renzo Barbera stadium, where Napoli fans were not admitted due violent behaviour by some fans at previous games.

 Palermo's defence dithered early in the game forcing their veteran goalkeeper Alberto Fontana to dive to deflect a vicious drive from Ezequiel Lavezzi on 10 minutes.

 The young Argentinian tried again on 41 minutes, but fired centrally after his Slovak team mate Marek Hamsik grossly misfired from good position.

 Tedesco came close for the hosts on 20 minutes as his diving header bounced off the post to the left of Gennaro Iezzo, who found help from the same post when Franco Brienza one minute later fired a smashing drive.

 Brienza fired another nasty shot to the left of Iezzo before the break, but found him ready to dive and deflect.

 The game remained brisk in the second half with Napoli taking the lead on 55 minutes only to see veteran midfielder Tedesco reverse it in the following 11 minutes.

 Uruguayan Mariano Bogliacino nodded home a precise cross from Lavezzi, but was badly hit by Cristian Zaccardo suffering a cut in his eyebrow.

 Tedesco, the only Palermo-born player in the home team, levelled on 57 minutes with a drooping shot from the limit of the area and on 66 minutes was free to volley home a corner kick from close range.

 Palermo managed to contain Napoli's efforts in the remainder of the game and took home a win that ended a run of five straight draws.

 Leaders Inter Milan have 25 points when they host Lazio Sunday, while Fiorentina trail on 23 before tackling fifth-place Udinese and 22-point Roma take on lowly Cagliari.

DPA