Genoa Club Amsterdam

After 3 matches with only 1 point (2-2 against Juventus) Genoa was yesterday special guest at the 100th birthdayparty of Bologna with master of ceremonies referee Gervasoni. Stadium Renato Dall’Ara was filled with 30.000 enthousiastic fans waving with their red and blue Bologna-flags. The hometeam played in beautiful old traditonal shirts against our team with Esposito, Kharja, Milanetto, Modesto and Palladino in the line-up.

Bologna started the match very agressive and goalkeeper Amelia already had to make some saves in the first minutes. In the 10th minute Floccari ran inside the penaltyarea of Bologna and was irregulary stopped by Portanova: penalty ! Since Floccari missed the penalty against Chievo little playmaker Kharja is our new penaltyman and he realized the opportunity very calm: 0-1.

After the goal Genoa was the better team in the field, Bologna was clearly shocked they were 0-1 down while they played so good in the opening minutes. In the 35th minute Genoa doubled the scored with a great goal after a fantastic combination of Modesto and Palladino at the leftside of the field, Modesto played the ball towards Floccari who’s cross was realized by Sculli: 0-2, halftime.

In the 2nd half referee Gervasoni did everything to help Bologna in their birthdaymatch. In the 9th minute he gave Mesto his second undeserved yellow card, so Genoa had to play with 10 against 11 the rest of the match. Every free-kick was given to Bologna and finally in the 85th minute he also gave the hometeam a ridiculous penalty that was realized by our ex-striker Marco di Vaio: 1-2. Of course Bologna did everything to score also the equalizer, but it was our substitute Nenad Tomovic who decided the match. In the 90th minute he received the ball a few meters over the halfwayline and he started to run towards the Bologna goal and passed 4 defenders, crossed the ball towards the other substitute Zapater who easily scored: 1-3, game over! We now are 5th in the standings with 13 points in 7 matches. The next match against Inter is Saturday 17th October.

   

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After the most difficult match in Europa League we still can be more proud of our team. Genoa lost the spectacular match in Valencia by 3-2 after a deciding penalty in the 82nd minute. We now are 3rd in the standings with 3 points, 1 behind Valencia and Lille that both have 4 points after 2 matches. The next match is in Lille at 22nd October.

To be honest Valencia was the best team in the first half and it was clear that Genoa missed important players like Biava, Criscito, Rossi and Juric. By surprise the openinggoal in the 41st minute was scored by Sergio Floccari who shot a header of our best player, Giandomenico Mesto, in the net: 0-1. Halftime !

   

In the 2nd half the expected Spanish storm arrived. Within 12 minutes the score was 2-1 by goals of Silva and Zigic. Everybody who thought the match was over was totally wrong. Genoa returned in the game and deserved a penalty in the 64th minute when Sokratis fell down in the penaltyarea. Houssine Kharja realized the opportunity: 2-2. Of course we all hoped the score wouldn’t change anymore, but the expected penalty on the other side of the field arrived in the 82nd minute when Esposito blocked Villa who realized the penalty himselves: 3-2. A defeat after a great match against one of the best teams in Europe. 

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With so many matches in such a short period nobody expects you to win them all. After the 2-2 draw in the battle against Juventus last Thursday it was clear that it would be difficult in Udine today. Till the 81st minute Udinese and Genoa were equal unless the fact that Genoa “lost” Biava and Criscito with injuries during the match. In the first minute of the 2nd half Genoa deserved a penalty when Domizzi touched the bal with his hand inside the penaltyarea and referee Trefoloni whistled and decided to give us only a freekick outside the penaltyarea. In the 81st minute happened we alle were frightened for: topscorer Antonio di Natale scored the openinggoal: 1-0. Of course Genoa tried everything to score the equalizer, but the 2nd goal was made in the 89th minute by Pepe of Udinese. Genoa is now on the 6th position of the standings with 10 points in 6 matches. Next week we play in Bologna, but first Thursdaynight in Valencia.  

Also the 3rd homematch of Genoa was very spectacular with many goals and attractive football. After the victories against Roma (3-2) and Napoli (4-1) this time we draw with 2-2 against Juventus that lost their first points in Luigi Ferraris. After 6 minutes Iaquinta scored the openinggoal: 0-1. In the 31st minute it was a header of Mesto out of a fantastic cross of Sculli that beat Buffon for the first time tonight: 1-1. In the last 15 minutes of the match both team scored another time: first it was Hernan Crespo who headed a cross of Mesto into the 7 of the goal and 5 minutes before the end Trezeguet scored the equalizer: 2-2. Genoa stays on the 4th position in the standings with 10 points in 5 matches. The next match is Sunday at 15.00 hours in Udine.

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This afternoon Genoa lost the first points in Serie A this season. Within 7 minutes Chievo Verona scored twice against our team without line-up players Moretti, Criscito, Juric, Zapater, Rossi and Sculli. Because we missed these 6 important players our defense and midfield were not good organized. Unless the ball-possession of 70% against 30% the match was played in the first 7 minutes. In the 65th minute the hope came back with the goal of Floccari (penalty), but 11 minutes later the match was definitively over when Pellissier headed 3-1 behind Amelia. In the 92nd minute Floccari missed an undeserved penalty, game over ! Already next Thursday we can have our revanche against Juventus. 

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