Genoa defeated Lazio 1-0 at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris on Sunday afternoon in Serie A action.
The away side will be disappointed to come away without a point after dominating proceedings in the first half, but Mauricio Pinilla’s late goal after Stefan de Vrij’s sending off sent the capital side home empty handed.
Lazio applied pressure early with Filip Djordjevic coming close after Felipe Anderson crossed to find the forward in the box but the Serbian turned the ball wide under pressure from Genoa’s Nicolas Burdisso.
Marco Parolo had a shot from the edge of the box for Lazio, but Mattia Perin held the shot before Senad Lulic shot well over from a similar distance only a minute later.
Lazio controlled the possession for much of the opening 15 minutes with Perin doing well to stop a powerful Lulic shot low to his right following a corner.
Genoa struggled to keep the ball for much of the half and a careless pass allowed Antonio Candreva to cross to find the head of Djordjevic, however, the 26-year-old should have hit the target as his header looped over the bar.
It took Genoa until the 26th minute to get into the Lazio box but they gave the ball away when Diego Perotti should have tested the gloves of Etrit Berisha.
The Biancocelesti had the best opportunity to take the lead when a goalmouth scramble ensued following a Anderson shot which was saved by Perin, with the rebounded shot being blocked in the six yard box, before a third shot was cleared to safety.
Lazio continued the pressure and rattled the woodwork moments later from Djordjevic who left Perin rooted to the spot with a headed effort following another Candreva cross.
In contrast to the first half, Genoa kept the ball better at the beginning of the second period, however, neither side managed to create clear opportunities in the final third.
Substitute Maxime Lestienne had an effort for Genoa following a corner but scooped the ball over the bar from outside the box before a Lazio effort flashed wide from the head of Candreva.
Lestienne shot over again for the Grifone and substitute Pinilla should have done better with a side-footed effort inside the box.
Candreva got forward well and tested Perin from a tight angle but Lazio ended the match down to ten men after de Vrij picked up a second yellow card for a needless handball.
Genoa left it late to clinch all three points and got the winner through Pinilla in the 87th minute who headed in from a yard out thanks to a cut-back from Perotti, who had controlled the ball well from a cross field ball.
Lazio pressured Genoa in the final moments and had a free kick deflected wide, however, Gian Piero Gasperini’s side will be delighted to get their first victory of the campaign regardless of the performance.
