Genoa defeated again

Genoa defeated again

Genoa were beaten for the third time in a week as they twice threw away the lead before finishing with 10 men in a 3-2 defeat at Cagliari.

A Daniele Dessena own goal put Genoa in front in the 20th minute, but Davide Biondini brought the hosts level 10 minutes into the second half.

Sergio Floccari restored Genoa's advantage moments later, but Nene equalised from the penalty spot after Emiliano Moretti was shown a red card in the 78th minute.

And Andrea Lazzari grabbed a winner in the 87th minute to earn the Sardinians their first home win of the season and send Genoa crashing to yet another defeat after losing 5-0 to Inter last Saturday and 3-0 at Lille in the Europa League on Thursday.

Cagliari started the game confidently with Andrea Cossu causing the Genoa defence problems.

However, it was Genoa who went ahead with their first attempt on goal in the 20th minute.

Giandomenico Mesto's free-kick appeared to be heading harmlessly wide of the goal until it took a decisive deflection off the foot of Dessena, who is on loan at Cagliari from Genoa's city rivals Sampdoria, and curled into the far corner.

Genoa lost their captain Ivan Juric to injury in the 29th minute, with Alberto Zapater replacing the man who only made his comeback from injury in Thursday's defeat in Lille.

His loss was certainly felt by the Grifone and Cagliari looked to take advantage with Conti striking a free-kick against the woodwork with Marco Amelia beaten in the 31st minute.

The lively Cossu saw his shot miss the post by inches as the Sardinians raised the pressure in the second half and they were rewarded 10 minutes in.

Alessandro Agostini's shot, possibly from an offside position, was saved by Amelia, but the ball fell to Jeda, who laid it back for Dessena to fire the next shot against the post, where Biondini was on hand to tap the ball in.

But Genoa went back ahead four minutes later when Floccari took advantage of some uncertain defending by Cagliari to convert Raffaele Palladino's cross.

Cagliari were given the chance to level in the 77th minute when a penalty was awarded for handball as Cossu's shot struck the arm of Giuseppe Biava.

To make matters worse for Genoa, Moretti was shown his second yellow card, either in a case of mistaken identity or for his complaint at the decision.

Either way, it meant Genoa had to play with 10 men for the last 13 minutes.

And Nene brought Cagliari level by converting the spot-kick via the inside of a post.

Lazzari then netted the winner in the 87th minute with Alessandro Matri the provider.

Matri managed to hold off two Genoa defenders and, even after falling to the ground, was able to thread the ball through for Lazzari, who left Amelia flat-footed, stroking the ball into the bottom corner to earn Massimiliano Allegri's side all three points.