Livorno sank to a disappointing 1-0 loss at home to Genoa in Serie A action from Tuscany as they looked to pick up points in their bid for survival.
Luca Antonelli’s early goal was the difference maker although it could have been so different for the Amaranto were it not for the heroics of Mattia Perin in the Grifoni goalmouth.
It took 10 minutes for the away side’s opener to arrive when Francesco Bardi did well to react and save from Alberto Gilardino’s strike but was helpless to prevent Antonelli tucking away the rebound.
Andrea Luci had a shot blocked as the home side looked to get back into the contest but found it difficult to generate any real kind of tempo to their play going forward but did have a good chance go begging when Leandro Greco found the ever alert Paulinho but Perin was on him quick to make the save and from their began to find their feet in the final third.
The young goalkeeper was called upon again to keep out Marco Benassi’s shot and then an awkward one at the other end from Pape Moussa Konate flashed across goal and wide of the post.
Innocent Emeghara then had a surefire goal attempt blocked brilliantly by Giovanni Marchese and could not react quickly enough to find the back of the net from the resulting rebound.
Konate was really impressing with the Grifoni with his explosive bursts and intelligence with the ball at his feet but could not help his side extend their advantage before the break, into which they took a solitary goal lead.
After the break, the sensational young Perin was called into action twice early to keep his side ahead as he first kept Benassi at bay and then pulled of a miraculous reflex stop to keep out Djamel Mesbah who already had his arms raised in anticipation of the goal.
Both coaches changed up their systems in an attempt to achieve the desired result, Mimmo Di Carlo going 4-3-3 in the hunt for a goal as the Grifoni converted to a more orthodox 4-4-2.
As a slight desperation began to creep in for the Amaranto, former Siena striker Emeghara saw an acrobatic overhead kick attempt fly off target and also had a a goal disallowed by the linesman’s flag which saw coach Di Carlo sent to the stands for his protests.
Livorno almost found an equaliser with the final chance of the game but Daniele Portanova cleared the chance off the goalline as his side held on for victory,
