In their final Serie A fixture of 2014/15, Sassuolo beat Genoa 3-1 at the Mapei Stadium.
Taking a very early lead through Domenico Berardi’s 15th goal of the season, Sassuolo were able to double their advantage after 18 minutes when Simone Zaza punished Genoa’s high defensive line.
The Italian volleyed a third and Leonardo Pavoletti pulled one back for the visitors before half-time; Zaza later missed out on a hat-trick as Eugenio Lamanna saved his 68th minute penalty.
Armando Izzo was then sent off for Genoa to round off a lively end of season game in front of a vibrant atmosphere containing 4,000 travelling Grifone fans.
After a slightly delayed start to proceedings the hosts wasted no time in scoring the opener when Berardi raced clear from Simone Missiroli’s through ball to find the far corner after 170 seconds.
The travelling side pressed forward but Sassuolo came close to a second when Paolo Cannavaro’s optimistic effort from 25-yards dipped severely, forcing stand-in goalkeeper Lamanna to tip it over the bar.
Tidy passing around the Neroverdi penalty area produced little in the way of chances for Genoa, it took until the 17th minutes to draw veteran keeper Alberto Pomini into action, from Maxime Lestienne’s powerful effort.
Moments after the Rossoblu’s first threatening attempt, the hosts added a second; Berardi claimed a tenth assist when heading Zaza through on goal, the Italian international rounding the keeper and making it 2-0 for his tenth goal of 2014/15.
A couple of fierce Iago Falque shots reminded the crowd of Genoa’s threat but at the other end the Neroverdi counter remained a constant threat and a well worked attack saw Zaza acrobatically volley a third goal on the half hour from Federico Peluso’s cross.
With time running out in the first-half, Pomini made a stunning stop from Pavoletti’s snapshot but he could do little to stop the 26-year-old turning in a close-range rebound from the resulting corner.
The visitors resumed their territorial advantage after the break while remaining suspect in defence; Zaza able to run and shoot wide as he searched for a fourth.
Genoa’s Lestienne slipped when finding himself through on goal to sum up the opening hour for Gian Piero Gasperini’s men, Edenilson having a shot tipped just wide moments later just as the Rossoblu’s momentum dropped off.
Sassuolo ramped up the pressure with several set pieces and the Grifone succumbed when Izzo dragged back Francesco Acerbi as the defender pounced on a rebound, however, Zaza’s penalty was saved by Lamanna and Francesco Magnanelli’s follow up disallowed due to some fairly blatant penalty box encroachment as the kick was taken.
Defender Izzo was then given his marching orders for hauling down Nicola Sansone when through on goal, meaning Genoa played out the final 20 minutes with a man disadvantage.
With the points settled, the final 10 minutes fizzled out and Eusebio Di Francesco’s new contract was celebrated with a fourth-straight win.
The Neroverdi end the season with a record-high finish of 11th while Genoa claim a Europa League qualification spot in sixth.
