Ivaylo Chochev struck twice as Palermo made it back-to-back wins in Serie A by beating Genoa 2-1 this afternoon.
The hosts almost scored within the first minute. Eugenio Lamanna was quickly closed down by Paulo Dybala and saw his clearance hit the striker and rebound just wide.
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Dybala caused even more problems for the visitors when he burst through on goal and saw his shot saved by the keeper, before Chochev arrived at the back post to fire home the follow-up effort and give Palermo the lead.
M'Baye Niang came close to bringing the visitors level, but his effort was saved by Stefano Sorrentino.
They were soon made to pay for that miss as Dybala played in Chochev, who found the net for the second time with a low strike that went through the legs of the keeper.
Genoa were unable to handle the pace and trickery of Dybala and the Argentine threatened again with an effort from just inside the box that sailed over the bar.
Moments later, the visitors created a good chance when Diego Perotti burst to the edge of the box and curled a strike just wide of the far post.
It was Palermo who could have extended their lead further going into the break, but Andrea Rispoli saw his volleyed effort kept out by Lamanna.
Within seven minutes of the second half, Genoa did manage to pull a goal back as Iago Falque was slid into the box by Edenilson, and he kept his composure to place a low effort into the bottom corner.
As the game edged past the hour mark, Dybala came close to restoring Palermo's two-goal lead with a curling strike that came crashing off the bar.
Genoa pushed hard for a way back into the game, but they could not create any more clear-cut chances as Palermo held on to take all three points.
Alex Meyers
