Genoa hold on for victory

Posted Sunday, February 05, 2012 by PA

Genoa risked throwing away a three-goal lead before seeing off Lazio 3-2 on a frozen pitch at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

Rodrigo Palacio's strike and two goals from Bosko Jankovic put the home side on the way to victory but a penalty from Cristian Ledesma gave the visitors hope.

Lazio lost Mobido Diakite to a red card in the 82nd minute but found another consolation from Alvaro Gonzalez in the last minute, although the defeat completed a miserable 24 hours for them.

The Biancoceleste struggled to even make it to Genoa as the snow in Rome created their first challenge, first in reaching the airport and then to eventually take off several hours late.

When they arrived at the stadium on Sunday, they found half of the pitch frozen and lost Hernanes to injury in the warm-up, with Tommasi Rocchi taking his place in the starting XI.

Rocchi himself lasted only 15 minutes before leaving the field with a muscular injury, probably picked up due to his lack of a real warm-up.

By that point, Lazio were already a goal down after Palacio diverted the ball in from a corner with his heel, intentionally lifting the ball over Federico Marchetti from six yards out despite having his back to goal.

Alvaro Gonzalez should have levelled for Lazio three minutes later, but he sent his shot wide with only Sebastien Frey to beat after being set up well by Miroslav Klose.

Jankovic doubled Genoa's lead in the 25th minute when his volley was only slowed down by Marchetti, but the momentum on the ball still took it over the line ahead of Marius Stankevicus' attempt to clear it.

Frey denied Klose while Senad Lulic headed wide as a late flurry of corners threatened to give Lazio hope just before the break.

Lazio coach Eduardo Reja appeared to look at the pitch in disgust as he crossed it to take his place on the bench at the start of the second half and his fears were confirmed when Javier Garrido slipped to let Jankovic in for Genoa's third just 10 seconds into the half.

Lazio were given hope when Ledesma converted a penalty in the 54th minute, but a red card for Diakite, who took exception to one of the referee's decisions and was promptly sent off, reduced their hopes.

Reja's side never gave up, though, and they grabbed a second in the last minute as Klose laid the ball off for Gonzalez to beat Frey from eight yards.

However, they were unable to find the energy to level as Genoa held on for yet another 3-2 win, their third in a row at home.