Venezia won the first leg of the Serie B promotion play-off semi-final away to Palermo, giving them the upper hand in this push for the top flight.
The Lagunari finished third in the regular Serie B standings this season, so had the advantage of going straight into the semi-finals and playing the first leg away from home.
Paolo Vanoli’s men made the most of it, emerging with a 1-0 victory from the Stadio Barbera.
It was an even first half with Fabio Lucioni and Filippo Ranocchia just wide, plus Salim Diakite’s effort pushed over the bar by Jesse Joronen.
Just as Palermo were piling on the pressure, Venezia scored instead with nobody closing down Nicholas Pierini on the edge of the box, allowing him to pick his left-foot spot.
The visitors had the ball in the net again in stoppages, but Ali Dembele’s goal was disallowed over Christian Gytkjaer’s offside position.
The second leg is in Venice on Friday May 24, while the other semi-final is between Cremonese and Catanzaro.
Serie B promotion play-off
Semi-final, 1st leg
Palermo 0-1 Venezia
Pierini 62 (V)
Player statistic
| Fabio Lucioni |  |
33' |
| 62' |  |
Nicholas Pierini (Assist: Joel Pohjanpalo) | ||
| Salim Diakite | |
64' | ||
| 64' | |
Bjarki Bjarkason | ||
| 64' | |
Jay Idzes | ||
| 71' | |
Antonio Candela | ||
| 76' | |
Gianluca Busio | ||
| 77' | |
Nunzio Lella |
Match statistic
