PALERMO (Interstat) — Dominic Vavassori scored twice in the second half as Palermo rallied from an early deficit to beat L.R. Vicenza 3-1 at Stadio Renzo Barbera on Sunday. The home side improved its record in this competition to eight wins, no losses and two draws, while moving to 11 wins, two losses and three draws across all competitions. L.R. Vicenza dropped to one win, three losses and one draw in this competition and one win, four losses and one draw overall. Palermo remained unbeaten in the competition after a match that began with the visitors ahead.

L.R. Vicenza struck first in the second minute when Niccolo Brighenti scored, with Filippo Costa recording the assist. The goal gave the visitors an early advantage and forced Palermo to chase the match. Palermo pressed for an equalizer and found it just before the break when Dennis Johnsen scored in the 45th minute. Johnsen had been booked in the 42nd minute, and his goal leveled the match at halftime. Brighenti’s finish remained the only goal Palermo conceded.

Palermo took control after halftime. Vavassori put the home side ahead in the 53rd minute, then added his second goal in the 85th minute to close out the scoring. Jacopo Segre recorded an assist before being substituted in the 68th minute. Vavassori’s two-goal performance was the central attacking contribution for Palermo, which turned a one-goal deficit into a two-goal win. Palermo’s second-half pressure produced the decisive goals and kept L.R. Vicenza from finding a response.

The match included several disciplinary and substitution moments. Morra of L.R. Vicenza was booked in the 14th minute, Johnsen of Palermo received a yellow card in the 42nd minute, and Mazzitelli of Palermo was booked in the 82nd minute. L.R. Vicenza made substitutions involving Morra in the 60th minute and Pietrelli in the 61st, then Costa and Merkaj in the 71st, before Carraro in the 83rd. Palermo made substitutions involving Pohjanpalo, Ranocchia and Segre in the 68th minute, Hernani in the 75th, and Johnsen in the 79th. The changes came as both sides adjusted to the second-half tempo.

Palermo entered the match after a draw at Pisa and recent wins over Carrarese and Mantova. Earlier in the season, Palermo also had wins at Empoli and over Padova, Enna and Sampdoria, along with draws against Digiesse PraiaTortora and at Avellino. L.R. Vicenza had recent setbacks against Modena and Pisa and a win at Empoli, and the visitors also drew at Benevento before a loss at Koper. The result continued Palermo’s strong run in the competition and left L.R. Vicenza searching for consistency. Palermo’s overall record reflected a busy stretch across competitions, while L.R. Vicenza’s overall mark remained below .500.

The game’s key performers matched the scoreline. Vavassori led Palermo with two goals. Brighenti scored L.R. Vicenza’s goal, while Johnsen added one goal and a yellow card for Palermo. Costa supplied an assist for L.R. Vicenza, and Segre provided an assist for Palermo before his substitution. Palermo’s win kept its unbeaten competition record intact, and L.R. Vicenza’s early goal was not enough to hold off the home side’s second-half surge. Palermo’s defense held after taking the lead, and the home side managed the closing stages without conceding again. The visitors could not turn their early breakthrough into a second goal.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of L.R. Vicenza 2, Palermo 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Palermo with a 69.7 percent probability to win. Palermo had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1.25. The total score of 4 went under the over/under line of 2.75.