Genoa 3 : 1 Parma - Paletta hands Genoa timely triumph

Posted Sunday, January 30, 2011 by PA

Genoa won their first game of 2011 at the expense of Parma, with a 3-1 victory at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

Parma defender Gabriel Paletta gave them a hand, first by giving away a penalty in the 16th minute, which was converted by Rodrigo Palacio, and then by scoring an own goal after Hernan Crespo had brought Parma level.

Kakha Kaladze's first goal for Genoa on the stroke of half-time sealed all three points for the Rossoblu.

Genoa were gifted the lead after a quarter of an hour when Antonio Floro Flores was fouled inside the penalty area by Paletta.

Palacio stepped up and sent his spot kick into the roof of the net to give the home team a perfect start.

Genoa continued to dictate affairs with Palacio and Floro Flores both causing problems, but Parma equalised against the run of play, and with their first shot of the match, in the 33rd minute.

Francesco Valiani's shot was only parried by Eduardo and former Genoa striker Crespo showed his predatory instinct by following through to level.

Paletta then gave his second gift to Genoa by heading into the top corner of his own goal from Domenico Criscito's cross from the left in the 44th minute.

Kaladze made it three less than a minute later when he gambled on a loose ball inside the penalty area and provided a striker's finish to give Genoa a comfortable lead at the interval.

The best chance in the second half was missed by Parma defender Alessandro Lucarelli in the 83rd minute as his side tried to get back into the game, but without success.

Genoa had no problems administering their lead to win for the first time in front of their own fans since November 11.