Genoa 2 : 1 Cagliari - Jankovic boosts Genoa's survival hopes

Genoa picked up an important win in their battle against relegation by beating Cagliari 2-1 at Brescia's Stadio Rigamonti.

Rodrigo Palacio put Genoa in front in the 11th minute, but Lorenzo Ariaudo replied within two minutes.

Bosko Jankovic then scored the winner to give Genoa a three-point cushion over the relegation zone with two games of the season remaining.

Despite losing, results elsewhere ensure that Cagliari are now mathematically safe.

The game was staged behind closed doors at the Rigamonti due to the crowd disturbances which almost forced the abandonment of Genoa's last home game.

The decision to move the game from Genoa to Brescia was taken on grounds of feared protests from fans locked outside their home stadium, but given the result, they would have had little to protest about.

Palacio, whose goals have almost single-handedly ensured that Genoa are not in an even worse situation, put them ahead in the 11th minute.

He beat Agazzi with a well-placed shot after Juraj Kucka headed the ball down to him at the far post from a corner.

Genoa's lead lasted just two minutes, though, before Ariaudo levelled.

It was from another corner, with Mauricio Pinilla heading the ball against the crossbar with Ariaudo on hand to convert the rebound.

Frey made a good reflex save to deny Gabriele Perico on the volley in the 32nd minute as Cagliari threatened to take the lead.

There was a moment of worry when Victor Ibarbo fell to the ground away from the ball and the doctors raced on to the field midway through the second half.

The Cagliari striker was carried off the field and was only able to stand up again when he reached the touchline, but he was clearly wary and did not re-enter the field of play due to concussion, with Thiago Ribeiro taking his place for the final 15 minutes.

Genoa launched a final assault late on, and they were rewarded with the winning goal in the 76th minute.

Jankovic sent his direct free-kick past the wall and into the unguarded part of Michael Agazzi's goal to put Genoa in front.

It was enough to seal all three points for the Rossoblu, which gives them a three-point advantage over Lecce, while Cagliari can still celebrate safety despite losing, with six points separating them from Lecce with a better head-to-head record meaning the Sardinians cannot go down.