Genoa back to basics

Genoa back to basics

Genoa returned to winning ways at the expense of Fiorentina, winning an action-packed encounter 2-1 at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris

Raffaele Palladino put the home side ahead two minutes before the interval, but Marco Marchionni equalised in the 63rd minute.

Giandomenico Mesto then grabbed the winner 10 minutes later, although Genoa had to defend desperately for their first win in four attempts.

There was a lively opening to the game with Fiorentina immediately on the attack, looking to exploit the adventurous tactics employed by Cesare Prandelli.

He played Adrian Mutu, Alberto Gilardino and Stevan Jovetic together for the first time this season and the early signs were promising.

But the first real chance of the game came at the other end where Giuseppe Sculli flicked Palladino's cross just wide of the far post in the seventh minute.

Riccardo Montolivo had Fiorentina's first big chance moments later when he had only Marco Amelia to beat, but the Genoa goalkeeper made a save with the ball looping into the air for Montolivo, who claimed he had been pushed in the back by Salvatore Bocchetti as he leapt for the rebound.

Genoa, who appeared to have one fewer player on the field such was Fiorentina's early territorial dominance, began to fight their way back into the game with Sculli coming close in the 35th minute.

Gilardino probably should have put the Viola ahead in the 37th minute when he was given a free header from just six yards, but he placed the ball straight into the hands of a grateful Amelia.

Sebastien Frey had to make his first save in the 39th minute when he denied Palladino with his legs after a well-worked free-kick.

Frey then denied Crespo and Francesco Modesto as Genoa increased the pressure, culminating in the opening goal in the 43rd minute.

Sculli lifted the ball into the penalty area where Palladino, who timed his run to perfection to beat the offside trap, exquisitely backheeled the ball past Frey from eight yards.

Fiorentina ended the half demanding a penalty as Jovetic went down upon entering the penalty area, but referee Massimiliano Saccani saw differently and showed the Viola striker the yellow card for simulation.

Fiorentina then hit the post twice in a minute with Montolivo the first to be denied by the woodwork with a stinging shot from fully 35 yards out which had Amelia beaten.

Montolivo then provided the chance for Alessandro Gamberini to head the ball against the other post

The Viola did eventually find the back of the net in the 63rd minute, though, when substitute Marchionni's angled shot from inside the area took a deflection on its way past Amelia.

Genoa substitute Mesto restored the home side's lead 10 minutes later when he reached a pass from the left from Palacio and beat Frey at his near post from an angle.

Fiorentina again reacted well with Dario Dainelli forcing a fine one-handed save out of Amelia.

Amelia had to be at his best to make another save from yet another dangerous shot from Montolivo and Mutu was caught offside as he tried to convert the rebound.

Genoa withstood the pressure to hold onto a precious win which ends a sequence of three straight defeats and takes them back up to sixth in the table, one point above Fiorentina.