MILAN (AP) — Carpi was relegated from Serie A on Sunday despite a 2-1 win at 10-man Udinese after Palermo beat bottom club Hellas Verona 3-2 in a dramatic match which saw both sides have a player sent off in the first half.
It was an impressive end for Palermo, which had several managerial changes this season. David Ballardini, who steered the Sicilian club to safety, was reappointed last month after being fired in January after seven matches in charge.
"They have been very hard months," Palermo goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino said. "We didn't sleep at night, we kept making calculations. We tried to give ourselves strength in the worst moments.
"This squad showed that it is made up of great men. I thank the ex-players and managers who spat poison on us, the journalists who wrote lies, directors and presidents who spoke nonsense. They gave us the strength to show our pride and win safety."
Carpi finished a point behind Palermo after the final round and goes straight back into the second division, along with Frosinone and Verona.
"I congratulated the lads who were splendid," Carpi coach Fabrizio Castori said. "We have earned 28 points since January, which is extraordinary. It leaves a bitter taste to be relegated with 38 points, we gave our all but unfortunately it wasn't enough. We leave with our heads held high. We can look at ourselves in the mirror.
Both Carpi and Frosinone were playing in Serie A for the first time.
Fiorentina, which had already secured fifth spot and a place in the Europa League, won 4-2 at Lazio. Miroslav Klose converted a penalty in the German World Cup winner's final match for Lazio.
Earlier, Atalanta won 2-1 at Genoa and Empoli beat Torino by the same scoreline. Chievo Verona drew 0-0 against Bologna.
Franco Vazquez fired Palermo in front in the 28th minute but Verona threatened and Sorrentino turned two efforts onto the woodwork.
Both teams went down to 10 men in the 34th as Palermo defender Michel Morganella appeared to elbow and then slap Pawel Wszolek. The Verona midfielder reacted and both were sent off.
Verona did level at the start of the second half as Federico Viviani was left unmarked to drill into the far bottom corner.
That score meant that Carpi, which was winning 2-0 at the time, was safe but that lasted just three minutes before Enzo Maresca scored his first goal for Palermo, meeting Andrea Rispoli's throw-in with a diving header which looped over Verona goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini.
Rispoli was the provider again in the 64th with a cross which was headed in by Alberto Gilardino.
Eros Pisano grabbed one back for Verona to set up a nervy final six minutes for Palermo.
Carpi also won but it was to prove meaningless.
Simone Verdi scored two goals for Carpi, including a penalty, and Udinese striker Cyril Thereau was sent off for dissent in the 37th.
Substitute Antonio Di Natale netted a late penalty shortly after coming off the bench on his Udinese swansong.
There was an emotional tribute after the match for the 38-year-old, who was in tears as he gave a speech and was presented with a silver plate marking his 445 appearances and 227 goals in 12 years at Udinese.
