Torino edged visiting Palermo 1-0 Saturday in a pulsating game that opened the 10th round of Seria A at Turin's Stadio Olimpico.
Second-half Austrian substitute Juergen Saumel rewarded Torino's unrelenting pressing volleying home a lose ball from long-range with one minute left.
Torino had notched only three points from their last six games and moved clear of the lower reaches on 11 points, while Palermo remain safe on 16.
Swiss midfielder Blerim Dzemaili was particularly active for Torino and threatened with a wide drive early in the game before connecting on 18 minutes with a cross from the right sending his shot to graze the closest post.
Other chances went begging for the attack-geared hosts when Roberto Stellone fired wide and Simone Barone hit the bar on 40 minutes.
The woodwork lent Torino a hand on 16 minutes, when the fast striker Fabrizio Miccoli sent a smashing long-range drive to bounce off the bar above a seemingly beaten Alex Calderoni.
The Sicily guests held on to their defensive tactics after the break, but Miccoli came close again on 61 minutes with a low nasty drive saved by Calderoni.
Flagbearer Alessandro Rosina came on for the hosts in the second half and on 70 minutes forced Alberto Fontana's clumsy save to parry his searing drive.
Torino seemed to lose their stamina in the final minutes, but were handed a lifeline when Palermo midfielder Antonio Nocerino was sent off with seven minutes left.
Another good game is expected later Saturday in Bologna where the hosts look to improve their second-last position on six points with the help of new coach Sinisa Mihajlovic.
The Serb, a former star defender with Lazio and Inter Milan, began his coaching career this week taking over from Daniele Arrigoni.
Roma celebrate the 400th Serie A game of their captain Francesco Totti as they strive to end a horrendous run of four straight defeats.
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Shares fell 2.1 per cent Friday on the Seoul stock exchange on general recession fears. South Korea's won dropped against the dollar.
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Amelie Mauresmo fell victim to a leg injury after less than half an hour on court Friday to hand over a 4-0 victory which put French compatriot Marion Bartoli into the final of the Brisbane International.
Mumbai-based movie Slumdog Millionaire won five prizes Thursday night at the Critics Choice Awards, cementing its position as a surprise favourite just as the Oscar season moves into high gear.
After the Taipei Zoo received two giant pandas from China, another Taiwan zoo said Friday it is seeking to receive a pair of pandas from China.