Terlizzi decides Maccabi tie

Christian Terlizzi's 77th-minute goal gave US Città di Palermo a 2-1 away win in their opening UEFA Cup Group B game at Maccabi Petach-Tikva FC.

Fine volley
The Rosanero defender, his team's top scorer in Serie A, found the target with a fine volley to give the Sicilian side victory in Israel. The visitors had previously led through an eleventh-minute Franco Brienza goal, but Omer Golan scored just before half-time to restore parity.

Attacking tactics
Palermo coach Luigi Del Neri's decision to play with Brienza and Andrea Caracciolo up front paid dividends as the attacking midfielder gave his team an early lead. Paul Codrea's superb ball found Brienza inside the area, and his right-footed shot beat Maccabi goalkeeper Ohad Cohen at the far post.

Missed chances
With 17 minutes played, Caracciolo should have doubled his team's advantage but his close-range strike was superbly cleared by Cohen. The Italian side came close to doubling their advantage again three minutes before half-time as Michele Ferri surged inside the area but failed to hit his shot on target.

Sucker punch
Palermo were quickly made to pay for those missed chances as a long ball from Maccabi's defence found Golan, who did well to beat goalkeeper Mariano Andujar before finding the net. The goal visibly lifted the home players and, as the teams emerged after the interval, Maccabi looked a much more determined side.

Terlizzi on target
For a while it could have gone either way. Kfir Ederi's formidable strike forced Andujar to make a diving save to his right, while at the other end Simone Pepe's header beat Cohen but hit the far post. Terlizzi's effort proved decisive, although Andujar made a great save to deny Emile Mbamba on 79 minutes. Maccabi will therefore hope to get their campaign on track when they go to Denmark to play Brøndby IF on 3 November, while Palermo welcome FC Lokomotiv Moskva to Italy the same evening.