What was billed as a goal fest didn't disappoint with both teams throwing everything and more at each other for 90 minutes of splendid Serie A football.
Sep 13, 2009 4:39:23 PM
Hernan Crespo - Genoa (Grazia Neri)
Following a wonderful display of attacking football from both sides, Genoa inflicted a heavy defeat on visitors Napoli to join Sampdoria and Juventus at the top of the! Serie A standings.
The visitors took the lead following a wonderful angled goal from Marek Hamsik, but with just seconds to go before half time Sergio Floccari leveled the scoring from the penalty spot.
Gian Piero Gasperini's men took the lead following a second half wonder strike by Giandomenico Mesto, and with just 15 minutes left to play Hernan Crespo dashed Napoli hearts with his first league goal of the season.
Kharja grabbed a fourth late on from the spot, and Genoa went flying back to the top of the standings with their perfect start still intact.
The visitors took the lead following a wonderful angled goal from Marek Hamsik, but with just seconds to go before half time Sergio Floccari leveled the scoring from the penalty spot.
Gian Piero Gasperini's men took the lead following a second half wonder strike by Giandomenico Mesto, and with just 15 minutes left to play Hernan Crespo dashed Napoli hearts with his first league goal of the season.
Kharja grabbed a fourth late on from the spot, and Genoa went flying back to the top of the standings with their perfect start still intact.
Napoli came storming out the blocks as they looked to demonstrate their worth as a real contender for the Champions League places.
The home side were quick to stamp their own authority on the game however, and they came fl! ying back at the Azzurri after just five minutes of early Napo! li domin ation.
On 15 minutes Genoa again went extremely close as Domenico Criscito smashed a wonderful crack on goal from 25 yards. Fortunately for Napoli their keeper Morgan De Sanctis was equal to it and palmed the ball clear with a wonderful outstretched dive.
Just seconds later Roberto Donadoni's side found themselves with a chance to take the lead when Inacio Pia found himself with an opening inside the box. The Napoli forward took a great touch before he smashed his shot goal bound, but Marco Amelia showed great reflexes to block from close range.
On 27 minutes the game took a turn for the worse for Genoa when Criscito was sent off in extraordinary circumstances. Following a challenge on Cristian Maggio which seemed to merit less than a bookable offense, the Italian full-back expressed a brief discord with the match official, who immediately responded with a red card.
The Partenopei looked to make good use of their numerical advantag! e, but Genoa were by no means ready to sit back as they continued to press forward at every opportunity.
On 35 minutes the Grifoni again went close following some great approach play by Sergio Floccari. The former Atalanta man layed off a great pass to Mesto, whose vicious shot finished just wide of the post.
Just five minutes later it was the visitors who broke the deadlock when Hamsik rounded the keeper. The Slovakian was fed into the box by a delightful pass from Fabio Quagliarella, and he was razor sharp to find the net from the tightest of angles.
The Grifoni were handed a golden chance to level just seconds before the break when Giuseppe Sculli was brought down inside the box by Hugo Campagnaro. The Napoli defender was shown his marching orders for a second bookable offense and Floccari was unforgiving as he coolly slotted the penalty kick past De Sanctis.
Gasperini introduced Rodrigo Palacio into the fray after the re-start, and Genoa were keen to push forward with numerical parity having been restored shortly before the break.
Both sides continued to throw everything they had in search of that extra inch, and the action move from end to end at a frightening pace.
On 54 minutes Genoa found their inch in magnificent style when Mesto gifted the Grifoni the lead. The Italian cut in from the left wing and didn't think twice before firing a thunderbolt from 30 yards, past a helpless De Sanctis in the Napoli goal.
The visitors refused to back off following the Genoa advantage, and coach Donadoni threw on Walter Gargano and Ezequiel Lavezzi to give the Azzurri some added clout going forward.
Genoa nearly added a third when Palacio's inviting cross found Alberto Zapater with a chance to head goal bound. Unfortunately for the Grifoni the former Zaragoza man couldn't make a clea! n contact and Amelia managed to get down in time to smother the danger.
On 75 minutes the Rossoblu took one step closer to victory when Hernan Crespo opening his Serie A scoring account with a wonderful finish following some great interplay with Palacio.
With just five minutes left to play Aronica was sent for an early bath when he bundled Palacio down inside the six yard box. Houssine Kharja stepped up for the subsequent spot-kick and put the game to bed with Genoa fourth.
The Grifoni kept possession for the final minutes and joined city rivals Sampdoria at the top of the table with Tagliavento's final whistle.
Genoa hadn't won their opening three Serie A fixtures since the 1932-33 season, but following the manner in which they dealt aside a dangerous Napoli, they will certainly be confident of pushing all the way for a top for finish next May.
http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/86/italy/2009/09/13/1499607/genoa-4-! 1-napoli-gutsy-grifoni-grab-the-spoils-in-end-to-end
