Genoa climbed out of the bottom three after defeating Pescara 4-1 on Sunday afternoon at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.
Antonio Floro Flores, Andrea Bertolacci and a Marco Borriello brace were enough for the Grifone to cancel out Giuseppe Sculli’s goal against his former side.
Genoa’s first chance came after only 6 minutes when Marco Borriello nearly scored the goal of the season. The striker acrobatically connected with a Grifone corner via a bicycle kick, only to see his effort whistle just wide of the goal.
Pescara responded on 17 minutes when Giuseppe Sculli broke free on the left, sending in a cross that was met by Ferdinando Sforzini who sent the chance over the bar without harming Sebastien Frey.
Genoa broke the deadlock in the 19th minute thanks to some slack Pescara defending. A lofted free kick into the Pescara penalty area was headed down to a wide open Antonio Floro Flores who easily sent the Grifone ahead.
The home side doubled their lead in the 30th minute thanks to an inspired piece of play by Borriello. The striker deftly controlled a long range pass just inside the Pescara penalty area, turned from a defender and sent his left footed curling effort into the far corner past a helpless Mattia Perin.
Despite Genoa’s dominance, Pescara cut into that lead only 5 minutes later thanks to ex-Grifone Giuseppe Sculli. The attacker, who did not celebrate in front of his former fans, beat Andreas Granqvist to a Damiano Zanon cross to cut the deficit in half.
The half closed out with a chance for Bertolacci, whose curling left footed effort whistled over the bar as the first 45 minutes closed with a 2-1 advantage for the home side.
Borriello continued his strong showing in the second half, as he restored Genoa’s two goal lead in the 54th minute. After a lovely one-two with Bertolacci, the 30-year-old unleashed a violent drive just under the crossbar that left Perin flat footed and the Delfini all but resigned to defeat.
Genoa continued to push forward and nearly made it 4-1 after 62 minutes, but Manfredini’s header was securely stopped by Perin.
The 4-1 did arrive in the 70th minute courtesy of a Perin blunder. The goalkeeper clattered with Borriello in his attempts to clear a lofted pass into the box, and his punched clearance went straight to Bertolacci who lashed the ball into the empty Pescara net.
Second half substitute Ciro Immobile tried to get in on the goalscoring action in the 84th minute as he slalomed through the Pescara defence before his placed effort glanced past the far post.
The remaining minutes ticked away to the delight of the home supporters as the crucial three points lift Genoa into 17th position with three matches remaining, while the defeat officially relegates Pescara.
Follow Adriano Boin on Twitter: @Boin44
