Genoa 1-0 Inter: Grifone dent Nerazzurri’s top three hopes

Date: 20th April 2016 at 10:51pm
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Genoa InterGenoa secured an impressive 1-0 win against an Inter side who dominated proceedings in their Serie A meeting on Wednesday evening.

Sebastian Di Maio grabbed the only goal of the game late on as Inter laboured unsuccessfully to find an equaliser.

The two sides cancelled one another out during a quiet first half, with Inter dominating possession but finding a resolute Grifone defence difficult to break down.

The best chances fell, predictably, to the predatory Mauro Icardi, but the Argentine was unable to demonstrate any of the composure that has bagged him more than 50 goals for the Nerazzurri.

Leonardo Pavoletti threatened for the hosts, but Samir Handanovic in the Inter goal was well able to deal with his efforts as Genoa struggled to offer much before the break.

Inter returned after the interval in determined mood and swarmed all over the hosts for the beginning part of the second half. They closed Genoa down in numbers and attacked en masse, though still failed to get close to a break through.

The best efforts in this spell came from a header that Ivan Perisic guided over from close range when he looked odds on to score.

As the half wore on, Roberto Mancini’s men started to tire and the game became stretched. This allowed both sides the opportunity to counter-attack more readily and saw the Grifone’s widemen, particularly Diego Laxalt, get into the game more.

The danger signs were there for Inter when Pavoletti laid a chance on to the on-rushing Cristian Ansaldi, but the full-back fizzed his effort wide. Laxalt was not finished, though, and his surges down the left hand side became more and more dangerous.

Eventually, that pressure told and a corner was eventually found the head of Sebastian Di Maio, who headed Genoa into the lead with only ten minutes remaining. The Grifone had fought their way back into the game and the goal came as no surprise.

However, the final ten minutes was a period of pressure from Inter, who found a second wind as they desperately searched for an equaliser. They almost found one immediately, but Mauro Icardi placed a header just over the crossbar.

In the end time ran out for the Nerazzurri, who slumped to a ninth Serie A defeat of the season, leaving their dream of Champions League football looking distant. Genoa, however, are now well safe of the relegation zone after a recent good run of form.

 

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