By DPA
Milan : Palermo edged Livorno 1-0 in the Serie A, ending a run of three straight defeats and securing a berth in the UEFA Cup zone.
Palermo have the second worst defence in the league with three less goals conceded than bottom side Cagliari on 37, but advanced on to 28 points from 20 games. They currently lie joint-sixth with Sampdoria, occupying one of three berths granting a slot for the continental competition.
Uruguayan Edison Cavani, Portuguese Da Cruz Vidigal and Brazil striker Amauri missed headers for Palermo in the first 15 minutes Saturday, while the guests came very close in the 21st minute as a close-range shot from Albanian Erjon Bogdani was deflected by veteran Alberto Fontana.
His Livorno counterpart, international reserve Marco Amelia, in the 38th minute failed to grab an easy cross, triggering a dangerous scramble, but three minutes later made a great save as one of his defenders deflected a drive from Giuseppe Biava.
As the first half drew to its end, two great chances went begging as Francesco Tavano, Livorno’s best striker on nine goals, had a nasty shot deflected by the far post and missed a spot kick awarded in the 45th minute as defender Cristian Zaccardo blocked with his arm an effort from the same Tavano.
The striker’s shot from the spot was low and fast, but met the hands of 41-year-old Fontana, who deflected it with a prodigious dive on his left.
After the break, Zaccardo was Palermo’s most dangerous player, misfiring an inviting assist from Fabrizio Miccoli in the 54th minute and heading wide before Miccoli displayed his shooting skills in the 76th minute to put the hosts one up.
The diminutive striker clinched a loose corner-kick ball outside the area and drilled it low in the corner as Amelia helplessly dove toward his right post.
Mid-table Napoli late Saturday were set to welcome fifth-place Udinese, who looked to avenge a 5-0 drubbing suffered at home early in the season.