Genoa-Udinese: 3-0 (2x Acquafresca+Palacio)

The goalscorers against Udinese: Robert Acquafresca and Rodrigo Palacio

Yesterday-evening Genoa beat Udinese by 3-0. Our new central-forward Robert Acquafresca scored twice, while our returned Argentinian wing-striker Rodrigo Palacio scored the last goal. We have now 38 points in 25 matches and are 9th in the standings.

Mr. Gasperini again started with his new defence: Sokratis, Dainelli and Moretti and for the first time with the 3 strikers: Palacio, Acquafresca and Sculli. In the beginning of the match Udinese played good, maybe even better than our boys, but after 30 minutes the match changed. After goalkeeper Handanovic stopped a great shot of Sculli it was Acquafresca who scored in the rebound: 1-0, first goal of Acquafresca in Rossoblu. Despite serveral chances with this score also halftime arrived.

Alberto Zapater also against Udinese one of our best players

In the 2nd half Genoa played towards Gradinata Nord, as often the most favorite direction of the players. In the 8th minute Genoa got a corner. At the far post Acquafresca surprised defender Coda of Udinese but before our new talented striker could score he was stopped by Coda: penalty. It was only a delay of a minute before Acquafresca could score his first goal in front of Gradinata Nord because he scored the penalty himself: 2-0. Just a litte more then 10 minutes later Palacio headed the 3-0 behind Handanovic after a good cross of Sculli. In the last 15 minutes Jankovic returned after his heavy injury for the first time this season in our team as substitute of Robert Acquafresca who deserved the standing ovation of the public. 

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As ever: Juventus wins by unreal penalty: 3-2

The unreal penalty: if Sokratis already touched Del Piero it was outside the penaltyarea

Yesterday Genoa played a very good match in Turin against Juventus and deserved the 2-2 draw which was on the scoreboard before referee Mazzoleni gave Juventus an unbelievable penalty like the Moggi-scandal never happened. Not only the referee is to blame about this penalty also the linesman who must have closed his eyes at the moment Del Piero showed everybody why so many people don’t like him, the symbol of Juventus.

referee Mazzoleni is happy that he could help Juventus, while Sokratis can not believe it

Genoa played a very good match and opened the score in the 16th minute by Marco Rossi – who at the beginning of the match already shot on the post – who realized a great combination of Zapater and Acquafresca. Time to the Juventus-fans to attack the 1500 Genoa-supporters with heavy fireworks. At the moment the fireworks finally stopped it was Amauri who scored the equalizer after an error of Criscito and Amelia. Halftime 1-1

Marco Rossi is happy after one of his goals against Juventus

In the 2nd half Juventus was the best team in the field but Genoa created just as many chances as the hometeam. In the 61st minute a great combinaton of Del Piero and Diego – again Criscito was not powerfull enough – gave the hometeam the lead: 2-1. The happiness lasted only 2 minutes when Marco Rossi scored again after a big mistake of Buffon: 2-2. This result also should be the most honest endresult, but referee Mazzoleni decided different. Let’s hope this was his last match in Serie A.

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Marco Rossi brings Genoa in Europe-zone

Marco Rossi celebrates his deciding goal against Chievo

This afternoon Genoa did win the important match against Chievo Verona by 1-0. Our captain Marco Rossi scored the only goal in the 63rd minute. Genoa is now on the shared 7th position in the standings with Juventus, our opponent of next week.

Because Biava is sold to Lazio and Criscito was suspended because of his 4th yellow card last week Mr. Gasperini had to change the team. Our coach substituted Biava by Sokratis in defense and put Mesto on the midfield-position of Sokratis last week. Ivan Juric substituted Criscito on the left in midfield, Acquafresca played in stead of Suazo as central-forward and Sculli was on the wingposition of Mesto last week in Naples. Genoa started the match very good and Acquafresca almost scored, but a defender of Chievo ruined the joy of Robert’s first goal with Genoa to kick the ball out of the goal after keeper Sorrentino was beaten. On the other side also our goalkeeper Marco Amelia had 2 perfect saves to keep his clean sheet since Genoa-Bari. Halftime: 0-0.

In the second half Genoa played much more agressive and just after Juric was changed by youngster Fatic our captain Marco Rossi scored with a perfect shot: 1-0. Unless the fact Mr. Gasperini substituted striker Palacio with defender Bocchetti our red and blue team stayed the most offensive team in the field. Omar Milanetto was close to the deciding 2-0, but his shot ended on the crossbar. After 95 minutes referee Ciampi finally whistled 3 times: 1-0, game over !  

The joy after the goal of Rossi against Chievo Verona

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Genoa survives Napolitan storm: 0-0

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As expected it wasn’t an easy match in San Paolo stadium of Napoli that was filled with 60.000 fans, from which 1.000 with a red and blue hart. As usual in matches between Napoli and Genoa the atmosphere was very friendly between the fans.

Genoa-fans in Napoli  Napoli-fans welcome Genoa-fans

Unless the fact the suspension of Bocchetti was over, Genoa started the match with the same 3 experienced defenders as last week: Biava, Dainelli and Moretti. Ivan Juric had some little problems just before the match, so he was substituted by Sokratis. It was unusual to see that not our Gasperini-boys but the opponent Napoli was the most offensive team in the field. Genoa was saved by the post when Dainelli almost scored in his own goal and just before halftime by the crossbar (shot of Cannavaro). The only remarkeble goal-attempt of Genoa in the first half was a shot of Criscito that was saved by Napoli’s goalkeeper De Sanctis. Halftime: 0-0.

  David Suazo with Paolo Cannavaro (Napoli)

In the 2nd half Napoli became stronger and stronger, just as the rain, but our defense played very good. At the time the Napoli strikers finally broke through our defense our goalkeeper Amelia reacted fantastic. In the 56th minute our new striker since friday: Robert Acquafresca made his debut in our red and blue shirt, but also he could not change the score: 0-0.

Amelia stops striker Denis of Napoli

Argentinian goals beat Atalanta: 2-0

Hernan Crespo scores 2-0 against Atalanta

Yesterday 2 Argentinian goals of Palacio and Crespo gave Genoa a 2-0 victory against Atalanta. Our red and blue boys are now on the 8th postion in the standings with 31 points in 21 matches, 6 points less then last year after 21 games.

Genoa started the match with the experienced defenders: Biava, Dainelli and Moretti. Unless the suspension of Bocchetti we did not take a goal, so the 3 “oldies” did their jobs well, unless the fact all 3 got a yellow card of referee Giannoccaro. After 18 minutes our returned wingstriker Rodrigo Palacio scored the openinggoal after a fantastic assist of Zapater: 1-0. Also after the goal Genoa was the best team in the field, which was completely clear when Crespo headed the 2nd goal behind goalkeeper Coppola in the 42nd minute. With 2-0 the halftime whistle arrived.

Genoa-players celebrate the 2nd goal against Atalanta

In the 2nd half the Gasperini-boys let Atalanta play in midfield, but Genoa always controlled the match. The referee also saved Atalanta serveral times to close an eye at the moment one of the Lombardian players with a yellow card made another big foul. In the last minutes Crespo was substituted by Suazo who created himself 3 big chances to score his first goal in Luigi Ferraris, but Coppola (twice) and the post stopped him. Next Saturdaynight Genoa plays in Naples against the reborn hometeam.  

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Genoa draws against Bari: 1-1 (Milanetto)

The free-kick goal of Omar Milanetto against Bari

Unless the fact that our goalkeeper Marco Amelia could play cards because he had almost nothing to do tonight we only draw against Bari: 1-1. Our goal was scored by Omar Milanetto in the 52 minute.

The match started completely wrong. After the 3-0 defeat in Rome, Genoa needed some trust but after only 5 minutes Bari scored a very dubious goal because of off-side and a handball of Barreto. Now after the match we can say that this was the only time Bari was close to our goal, but at that moment it was a little shock to all Genoani. After Milanetto first missed a big chance eye to eye with goalkeeper Gillet, in the 52nd minute Genoa got a free-kick just outside the penalty-area. Omar “Hannibal” Milanetto tried to shoot the ball over the wall in the near corner, but Almiron touched the ball and it went in the far corner: 1-1. Several times Genoa was close to the second goal and Juric hit the post with another free-kick, but despite the fact the cornerscore was 12-0 it lasted 1-1. Genoa is now 11th in the standings with 28 points in 20 matches.

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Genoa without any chance against Roma: 3-0

Dario Dainelli controls Luca Toni

The feeling before the match was good, unless the fact that Genoa missed 3 of the 4 wingstrikers with Jankovic, Palladino and Palacio. Only Giuseppe Sculli was able to play, but also he had to leave the pitch with an injury after only 30 minutes. At that moment Roma already took te lead by a goal of Perrotta in the 16th minute. When Mesto missed a great chance to score the equalizer and Luca Toni scored the 2nd goal of Roma the match was over, while there were still 45 minutes to play. In the 2nd half Luca Toni also scored his second goal and Sculli’s substitute Ivan Fatic missed a great chance eye to eye with the goalkeeper of Roma, so we lost 3-0. We only have to wait till Wednesday to have the chance for a revanche against Bari that draw against Inter this weekend: 2-2.

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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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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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Bad playing Genoa lost 1-0 against bad Lazio

Genoa lost the match in Stadio Olimpico of Rome against Lazio by 1-0. The only goal was scored by Kolarov in the 40th minute in the 1st half. The last 28 minutes Genoa had to play with only 10 players when Salvatore Bocchetti got the red card of referee in the 66th minute. One minute before referee Celi refused to give Genoa a penalty when Kolarov stopped an assist of Zapater with his hand and 30 seconds before the red card of Bocchetti good-old Ivan Juric headed the ball on the post besides Muslera. With 10 players Genoa played better then with 11 players, but the luck and believe missed to really score the equalizer. Was Valencia already in the minds of our players ? Genoa is now on the shared 7th position in the standings with 24 points in 7 matches. Next Sunday we play the last match of this year in Luigi Ferraris against Bari.

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