Late Pohjanpalo Penalty Completes Palermo Fightback Against Catanzaro

Palermo FC mounted an impressive comeback to defeat US Catanzaro 3–2 in Serie B on matchday 37, recovering from a Filippo Pittarello double before an 86th-minute penalty from Joel Pohjanpalo decided a tense contest.

Catanzaro struck almost immediately, taking a 1–0 lead in the 3rd minute when Filippo Pittarello found the net to stun the hosts. Palermo responded on the quarter-hour mark: Dennis Johnsen levelled the score at 1–1 in the 15th minute, finishing a move created by Filippo Ranocchia.

Serie B FINISHED

2026-05-01 13:00

Palermo FC

3 - 2

US Catanzaro

Matchday 37 REGULAR_SEASON

The visitors restored their advantage in the 32nd minute. Pittarello grabbed his second of the afternoon, this time assisted by Federico Di Francesco, to put Catanzaro 2–1 ahead and send Palermo into the break chasing the game. Emmanuel Gyasi picked up a yellow card for the hosts on the stroke of half-time.

Palermo adjusted at the interval, bringing on Tommaso Augello, and were back on level terms nine minutes after the restart. A 54th-minute own goal by Catanzaro’s Patrick Nuamah made it 2–2, shifting the momentum towards the home side.

Both coaches turned to their benches as the half wore on, with a flurry of substitutions from the 61st minute onward, including the introductions of Bartosz Bereszyński and Aljosa Vasic for Palermo and Gabriele Alesi and N’Dri Philippe Koffi for Catanzaro. Johnsen received a yellow card in the 77th minute as tensions rose.

The decisive moment arrived in the 86th minute when Palermo were awarded a penalty. Joel Pohjanpalo converted from the spot to give the hosts a 3–2 lead, which they held through the final minutes despite further late substitutions on both sides.

The win gives Palermo a valuable three points late in the regular season. Detailed data beyond goals, bookings, substitutions and the final score was not available at the time of writing.

Full match details: Palermo vs Catanzaro | More on Serie B.

View full match page

Serie B Standings

Season: 2025/26

#	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Form
1	Venezia FC	37	23	10	4	75	31	44	79	D W W D W
2	Frosinone Calcio	37	22	12	3	71	34	37	78	W W W D W
3	AC Monza	37	22	9	6	59	30	29	75	L W W W D
4	Palermo FC	37	20	12	5	61	31	30	72	W D W D W
5	US Catanzaro	37	15	14	8	60	48	12	59	L W D D D
6	Modena FC 2018	37	15	10	12	49	35	14	55	W L L D D
7	SS Juve Stabia	37	11	17	9	43	44	-1	50	L D D W L
8	Mantova 1911 SSD	37	13	7	17	45	52	-7	46	W W L W W
9	AC Cesena	37	12	10	15	42	52	-10	46	D D L L D
10	Calcio Avellino SSD	37	12	10	15	42	55	-13	46	L W W D L
11	Carrarese Calcio	37	10	14	13	46	50	-4	44	D L D L W
12	UC Sampdoria	37	11	11	15	35	47	-12	44	W D L W W
13	Padova Calcio	37	11	10	16	35	46	-11	43	W L W W L
14	Empoli FC	37	9	13	15	45	52	-7	40	W L D L L
15	FC Südtirol	37	8	16	13	37	47	-10	40	L L L D D
16	ACD Virtus Entella	37	9	12	16	34	50	-16	39	L W D D L
17	SSC Bari	37	9	10	18	35	58	-23	37	W L L L W
18	Delfino Pescara 1936	37	7	13	17	50	65	-15	34	L D D L W
19	Spezia Calcio	37	8	10	19	42	58	-16	34	D L W L L
20	AC Reggiana	37	8	10	19	35	56	-21	34	L D L W L