Genoa 2 : 2 Atalanta - Spoils shared in opener

Posted Sunday, September 11, 2011 by PA

Genoa and Atalanta took a point each from their Serie A opener as they drew 2-2 at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

Miguel Veloso put the home side in front after only six minutes, but Atalanta responded immediately with Maximiliano Moralez scoring within two minutes.

He put the visitors in front just before the interval, but Giandomenico Mesto earned Genoa a draw with the fourth goal of the game in the 55th minute.

The hosts ended the game with 10 men when Valter Birsa was shown a last-minute red card not long after coming on as a substitute.

Genoa made a dream start with Veloso putting them ahead in the sixth minute.

The Portuguese midfielder shot with the outside of his boot with the ball curling away into the far corner after Rodrigo Palacio pulled the ball back to him just inside the penalty area.

Genoa's joy was short-lived, though, as Atalanta debutant Moralez levelled just two minutes later.

Giacomo Bonaventura's shot was saved well by Sebastian Frey, but the ball spilled loose and Moralez pounced to beat Genoa's new goalkeeper.

German Denis went close with a volley from 20 yards in the 19th minute before Palacio's header was saved right on the goal line by Andrea Consigli in the Atalanta goal.

Cesare Bovo's free-kick skimmed the top of the crossbar in the 24th minute, but the visitors then took control of the game.

Denis failed to beat Frey in a one-on-one before Ezequiel Schelotto's cross was headed just wide by Bonaventura.

Moralez crowned Atalanta's best spell of the game with a goal two minutes before the break with the Genoa defence again at sea.

He was put through on goal by Denis and made no mistake with his shot into the top left-hand corner of Frey's goal.

Genoa levelled just 10 minutes into the second half when Atalanta's former Sampdoria defender Stefano Lucchini inadvertently headed Juraj Kucka's ball into the path of Mesto, who beat Consigli inside his near post.

Andrea Caracciolo missed a glorious chance to win it for Genoa late on when he headed over from six yards out with only Consigli to beat.

Birsa was sent off for a foul from behind on Denis in the last minute, but there was no time left for Atalanta to take advantage of their extra man.