Genoa 5 - 2 Hellas Verona - Genoa thump Verona

Posted Monday, February 16, 2015 by PA

Genoa thumped Hellas Verona 5-2 on Sunday afternoon for their first win at the Luigi Ferraris stadium since December 7.

An own goal from Alessandro Agostini put the hosts ahead in the 10th minute before M'baye Niang doubled Genoa's lead two minutes later.

Luca Toni reduced the deficit for Hellas in the 20th minute but Niang extended his team's advantage on the half-hour mark.

Toni struck his second of the afternoon for the visitors before the hour but Genoa reclaimed their two-goal advantage through Andrea Bertolacci shortly after.

Diego Perotti capped up a convincing performance for the hosts with his team's fifth four minutes from time as Genoa clinched their ninth victory of the season.

The win lifted Genoa to seventh place while Hellas, who lost for the third straight time, fell to 15th position in the Serie A table, just four points clear of the drop zone.

Genoa, who had halted a seven-match winless run in their last game, took a 10th minute lead after Agostini deflected Zakarya Bergdich's low cross into his own net.

The home side went 2-0 up soon after when Iago Falque's cross found Niang in the six-yard box and the Frenchman beat Hellas goalkeeper Francesco Benussi with ease.

Hellas pulled one back soon after when Toni's powerful header from Lazaros Christodoulopoulos' cross beat Genoa goalkeeper Mattia Perin.

Genoa then made it 3-1 when Niang got his head behind Edenilson's cross from the right and sent a powerful effort past a helpless Benussi.

Hellas coach Andrea Mandorlini was forced to make his first substitution before the interval with Frederik Sorensen replacing an injured Vangelis Moras.

The visitors showed more intent after the re-start and were rewarded in the 57th minute.

Emil Hallfredsson spotted an unmarked Toni in the box and the Italian veteran forward struck the ball towards the centre of goal and out of Perin's reach.

Hellas' hopes of an equaliser were dashed eight minutes later.

Bertolacci got behind Diego Laxalt's pass and struck a left-footed strike towards the far post to beat Benussi.

Genoa finished off proceedings by making Hellas pay for a defensive mistake, with an unmarked Perotti striking a diagonal shot past Benussi.