Genoa beat Hellas Verona 2-0 at the Stadio Ferraris in Serie A on Sunday afternoon.
The Grifone went ahead midway through the first half thanks to a Daniele Portanova header, before Juraj Kucka doubled the lead with an almost identical goal, with Matuzalem providing the assist for both.
It was Verona however who had the early momentum, pinning Genoa back in their own half during the opening stages, but after weathering the early storm Gian Piero Gasperini’s men began to settle.
Alberto Gilardino had an early penalty claim turned down but the referee then flashed a shot just wide of Rafael’s far right post.
A moment of restbite was provided for the Mastini defence as Luca Toni managed to get a shot off, but it was well blocked by Portanova, though Genoa went up the other end and Matuzalem’s poor effort from the edge of the area was easily saved by Rafael.
The breakthrough came on the half hour as an unmarked Portanova got on the end of a Matuzalem corner to place his header into the far right corner past a helpless Rafael.
Not long after it was two, as Kucka lost his man to produce a carbon-copy header past an outstretched Verona goalkeeper, Matuzalem once again providing the assist, this time with a wonderful cross from the right.
It was nothing more than the home side deserved as they dealt with any Verona attacks with relative easy and were winning the midfield battle.
As the first half drew to a close, the away side did have a few efforts on goal, but on each occasion they were blocked by the Grifone defence.
The first chance of the second half came the way of the Mastini as Juan Iturbe swung in a free kick from the left and Toni could only power his header wide.
Genoa seemed more content to sit back in the second half but despite having plenty of the ball, the Gialloblu found it tough to penetrate a well organised Grifone backline.
Former Genoa man Bosko Jankovic had a shot from distance easy palmed away by Mattia Perin, before Martinho has another well caught by the Grifone glovesman, who was coming under real pressure.
An Alessandro Agostini free kick was headed onto the post by Toni, then ball bobbled along the goal line but Verona couldn’t get it in the back net with Perin saving from Daniele Cacia from close range.
In the closing moments of the game Martinho found space on the edge of the area, but dragged his effort wide, while Toni ballooned over with what was effectively the last kick of the game.
