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Palermo downs Siena to clinch a spot in the UEFA C

Sun 20th, May 2007

Palermo, Italy (Sports Network) - Palermo, Fiorentina and Empoli each clinched a spot in the UEFA Cup for next season after Atalanta was held to a 1-1 draw by league-champions Inter Milan.

Palermo snapped a two-game losing skid to down Siena 2-1, thanks to first-half goals from Eugenio Corini and Andrea Caracciolo. Siena got a late goal from Massimo Maccarone, but it was not enough to keep the home supporters at the Renzo Barbera from celebrating their European place. Fiorentina and Empoli both blew multiple-goal leads and had to settle for draws, with Empoli building a three-goal advantage before drawing with Reggina 3-3 and Fiorentina conceding two goals in the final nine minutes against Messina for a 2-2 tie. However, those results are not costly and all three sides are assured of European soccer with one game to spare. The loss is a big blow to Siena, who now occupy the third relegation spot, one point from safety. Siena will now need to take at least one point from its home encounter with third-placed Lazio on the season's final day to stay in Italy's top-flight. The opener came after 26 minutes when Carraciolo was brought down outside the area. Corini stepped up to the ball and bent his shot past the wall and off the inside of the post before it settled into the back of the net. Carraciolo then finished off a goal himself just before the break, slicing through the midfield before firing past keeper Alex Manninger to make it 2-0 to the hosts. Siena slowly began to climb back into the game towards the middle of the second half. Paolo Negro forced a nice save from keeper Alberto Fontana, but it wasn't until the stoppage time that Siena found its way onto the scoreboard. A free kick from the edge of the box was driven just underneath the cross bar by Maccarone, but it was not enough to keep Siena from falling into relegation danger. In other Serie A play on Sunday, Cagliari got two goals from Davide Marchini to beat Roma 3-2, Chievo downed Ascoli 1-0, Lazio played to a scoreless draw with Parma, Sampdoria got past Catania Calcio 1-0 and Torino had to settle for a 0-0 draw against Livorno.