Half-Time Report: Franco Vazquez's penalty puts Palermo ahead at below-par Roma

Palermo hold a 1-0 lead away at Roma thanks to a Franco Vazquez penalty.

The away side nullified Roma's threat inside the first 20 minutes and almost took the lead as Vazquez tried to catch the keeper off his line from inside his own half.

Unfortunately for the striker, his effort cleared the bar by a few inches. Palermo remained on top, however, and Lukasz Skorupski was forced into a reflex save to deny Enzo Maresca's header.

Mato Jajalo then became the latest Palermo player to go close to breaking the deadlock with an effort from long range which sailed marginally wide.

Eventually, Roma caved in as the referee awarded Palermo a penalty for handball against Nicolas Spolli, and Vasquez converted from the spot to give his side the lead at the interval.