Genoa triumphed 1-0 over Udinese at the Luigi Ferraris in Serie A action on Sunday afternoon.
Juraj Kucka’s header was the difference as the Rossoblu clinched all three points.
Genoa got things started early on with a quick counter ending on a Juan Manuel Vargas shot, but it was hit right into the hands of Daniele Padelli.
Udinese were forced into an early change after Andrea Lazzari collided with Marco Rossi knee-first, Emmanuel Badu replaced the Italian midfielder in the 10th minute.
Following that, Dusan Basta made a lovely cut back into the centre of the pitch and had a good hit, but Sebastien Frey was equal to the task.
The Bianconeri came close yet again through the substitute Badu after an Antonio Di Natale cross, but the Ghanian’s effort was just wide.
The Rossoblu struck first blood just past the half-hour mark. Kucka had a hit from distance off a cleared ball, but it deflected out for a corner. Daniel Tozser found Kucka in the box after the corner with a cross, and the Slovakian made no mistake and powered it past Padelli to make it 1-0.
Late in the half, Maicosuel was close to tying the game, but his long range attempt was just a little high from reaching the target.
The hosts had the first opportunity of the second interval off a free kick, but Cesare Bovo’s shot was saved by Padelli.
After a fast start, the tempo slowed down for 15 minutes, but that didn’t stop Luca Antonelli, however he blasted the ball wide right off a brilliant solo run.
A quarter of an hour passed, and another chance for the Ligurians arrived off another free kick. Despite some commotion in the Udinese penalty area, no one in red and blue could knock it into the net.
In the closing moments, Mehdi Benatia was alone in the centre of the penalty area and had a free header, but it ended up wide, resulting in a goal kick, and, ultimately, a victory for Genoa.
