Dainelli new defender; again Genoa-Catania

Dario Dainelli (nr. 3) never wants to be beaten again by our strikers

After a lot of rumours finally our new strong central defender arrived: the 30 years old, 1.91 meters tall captain of Fiorentina: Dario Dainelli. The experienced defender costed Mr. Preziosi € 2,5 million and signed a contract till the summer of 2013.

Genoa plays tomorrow-evening at 18.30 hours in the 1/8 finals of Coppa Italia against Catania, the same opponent we beat last Sunday by 2-0. Mr. Gasperini selected the following 18 players for tomorrows match:

Goalkeepers: Amelia, Scarpi

Defenders: Bocchetti, Esposito, Moretti, Sokratis, Tomovic

Midfielders: Criscito, Fatic, Juric, Milanetto, Modesto, Rossi, Zapater

Strikers: Crespo, Mesto, Suazo, Sculli

Genoa beats Catania by 2-0 (Mesto and Sculli)

Giandomenico Mesto opened the score against Catania

After the defeats against Lazio and Milan and the draw against Parma finally again a victory to Genoa. After a nervous start our red and blue team became stronger and stronger. In the 28th minute Catania-defender Bellusci got his second yellow card after he stopped Suazo irregulary, so Catania had to play with only 10 players. From this moment there was only 1 team in the field: Genoa ! Giandomenico Mesto scored the first goal in the 36th minute with a header out of a cross of Criscito, while Mesto himself gave the assist to the second goal: a header of Giuseppe Sculli in the 71st minute: 2-0.

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19 Players selected to beat Catania

Giandomenico Mesto is happy after his first goal with Genoa

Our captain Marco Rossi is suspended this afternoon because of his yellow card against Milan. Sassa Bocchetti returns after his suspension and also Moretti and Sokratis can play in defense. Mr Gasperini selected the following 19 players to play today in the important match against Catania:

Goalkeepers: Amelia, Scarpi

Defenders: Biava, Bocchetti, Esposito, Fatic, Moretti, Sokratis

Midfielders: Criscito, Juric, Mesto, Milanetto, Modesto, Tomovic, Zapater

Strikers: Crespo, Palacio, Suazo, Sculli

A.C. Milan too strong: 5-2 (Sculli and Suazo)

Marco Borriello (in off-side position) scores against his former team Genoa

Yesterday A.C. Milan was much too strong comparing to our Gasperini-boys. Also without the help of referee Orsato (3 penalties to Milan and 1 goal scored in off-side) the red and black deserved the victory. Genoa is now on the 12th position in the standings, but we have 1 match less (Genoa-Bari) then most of the other teams.

Genoa started with Criscito as left-defender to substitute the suspended Bocchetti. Already in the 13th minute Orsato gave Milan the first penalty when Ambrosini on purpose fell down over the outstanding leg of Biava. Amelia stopped the penalty of Ronaldinho. In the 25th minute Genoa stole the lead when Giuseppe Sculli headed an assist of Palacio behind goalkeeper Dida: 0-1. The joy lasted only 6 minutes when Orsato gave Ronaldinho a new chance to score a penalty. Again Ambrosini acted very good that Amelia failed him, but for real he already dived with his 2 legs similar against each other in the air before there was any contact.

Lesson nr. 1 to a referee: if a striker falls down like this it is never a penalty 

This time Ronaldinho scored the penalty: 1-1. A few minutes after this goal Moretti had to leave the pitch because of an injury which meant the end of the match to him and to the rest of Genoa. With only 1 real defender (Biava) the strikers of Milan were much too strong. Thiago Silva scored 2-1 only 1 minute after Moretti left the field and in the first 15 minutes of the 2nd half our ex-striker Marco Borriello scored 3-1 and 4-1 (fantastic goal, but in off-side). In the 74th minute Huntelaar scored the 3rd penalty of the match, while Suazo scored our second and his first goal in the shirt of Genoa: 5-2.

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Happy New Year 2010 !! Genoa 5th in 2009

fireworks

Happy New Year to all Genoani in the world ! Let’s hope 2010 will be like 2009 with 2 victories in the derby (3-0 and 3-1), qualification to European football and the 5th position in Serie A. The standings over the complete calenderyear 2009:

  1. Inter             38-81

  2. Milan            37-72

  3. Juventus        38-68

  4. A.S. Roma     39-68

  5. Genoa       37-63

  6. Fiorentina      37-60