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Palermo with a win against Atalanta |
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Palermo just missed out on a Champions League place despite seeing off relegated Atalanta deep into injury-time on the final matchday of the Serie A season.
Delio Rossi's side needed to win to triumph in Bergamo but also required a favourable result in the match between European rivals Sampdoria and Napoli.
Sampdoria ended those hopes with a 1-0 win to take fourth spot, rendering Edinson Cavani's 95th-minute penalty winner academic.
Cavani had put his side in front after 12 minutes, getting on the end of Javier Pastore's low centre to steer past Andrea Consigli.
Palermo settled back into a lower tempo and Atalanta gradually fought their way back into proceedings.
Ferreira Pinto could have put the hosts level at 1-1 but his header powered just over the crossbar.
Cavani continued to be Palermo's most likely source of invention and he almost restored the lead 36 minutes in when he charged toward goal only to be smothered by the onrushing Consigli.
Atalanta continued to keep their fans interested three minutes later when Ivan Radovanovic drilled a long-range shot toward the corner only for Salvatore Sirigu to leap at full stretch and tip the ball out of play for a corner.
Sirigu appeared beaten on the stroke of half-time when Cristiano Doni lashed in a free-kick only to see it land wide of the post.
Play was held up twice after smoke bombs were let off in the home end but when play resumed Atalanta went some way to appeasing dissenters with a 48th-minute equaliser.
Fabio Ceravolo was the scorer, getting the decisive touch as the ball moved through a group of players and eventually turning his shot past Sirigu.
Cavani was once again creating chances for Palermo and came within inches of restoring the advantage when he fired at a seemingly empty net only for defender Paolo Bianco to make enough ground to block it on the line.
Sirigu was also back in the action sooner than he would have liked, saving brilliantly with his feet after Simone Padoin's headed effort looked to be sailing over the line.
Instead, Sirigu's efforts meant the best Atalanta got from the chance was a corner.
A second goal was still needed from Rossi's side if they were to stand any chance of stealing fourth from Sampdoria and Consigli was doing his best to prevent that happening.
Palermo substitute Igor Budan was the player denied on both occasions, though he will have been disappointed by the power behind his shot.
Cavani's endeavours eventually yielded a winning goal for Palermo after he converted a dubious penalty deep into time added on.
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