Sassuolo were beaten 2-0 by Genoa at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris on Monday afternoon.
Rossoblu captain Alberto Gilardino converted a penalty and Andrea Bertolacci scored with a marvellous volleyed effort in the first half to ensure that the home side took all three points.
The Grifone were on the front-foot right from the off in what was a fast-paced first period, however neither team could maintain possession in a scrappy opening ten minutes, as both sides tried to get a foothold in the game.
The first real chance on goal came in the sixth minute, as Sebastian De Maio’s header from a corner was saved by Sassuolo ‘keeper Gianluca Pegolo, with the parried ball eventually being picked up by the veteran custodian after initially falling to Rossoblu striker Alberto Gilardino.
The Neroverdi looked much more assured in possession, and were the more creative side, putting together some nice passing moves, but any attempt to penetrate the Grifone penalty box was well thwarted by the Genoa defence in the opening exchanges as Sassuolo’s attack posed almost no threat.
A penalty was awarded to the hosts in the 27th minute; Luca Antonelli was alleged to have been pulled down by Marcello Gazzola in the penalty area as the two players jumped for a ball which was lofted into the Sassuolo box. Gilardino converted confidently, firing the ball into the top left corner, leaving Pegolo with no chance as he was rooted to the spot.
With Matuzalem being given a yellow card for what the referee deemed to be a studs-up challenge, Gilardino then incurred the wrath of the official by protesting against the decision, getting a yellow card for himself in the process, and almost being sent-off after a petulant challenge minutes later.
Thomas Manfredini was the next to try his luck on goal, as he he dispossessed Francesco Magnanelli on the edge of the box, and despite being seemingly crowded out by Sassuolo defenders, he managed a rasping shot, which went just wide of the right upright.
Moussa Konate then succeeded in squeezing a deflected cross into the box after some tricky wing-play, and Gilardino got on the end of it, firing just past Pegolo’s left post.
Mattia Perin made a great save from Simone Missiroli’s header when a free-kick was lofted into the box from the right just before the end of the half. The ball sat up in the air, and was tipped over the crossbar as he demonstrated good reactions after a close-range header.
Andrea Bertolacci scored a fantastic second after Konate’s wonderful cross from the right was met at the far post. Bertolacci met the ball with a splendidly-controlled side-foot volley, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.
Seconds later, Gilardino put Konate through on the right after a quick counter-attack, but his left-footed shot ended in the arms of Pegolo, as the Grifone wasted the opportunity to go three up moments before the break.
Sassuolo started the second period just as they had finished the first, struggling to get a shot on target, as for all their good passing moves and one-twos, there wasn’t any end product. However, they looked to attack more as Genoa seemed more than happy to sit back a little and defend their lead.
Donemico Berardi was the first player to attempt a shot on goal after the restart, finding his way past two Genoa midfielders on the edge and firing wide of the right post, with Antonelli having a similar effort saved by Pegolo just a few seconds later down the other end.
While the game was quite end-to-end, the play was frequently broken up by fouls, which ensured that there was no discernible flow to the game.
Paolo Bianco took Gilardino down in the 77th minute, and was lucky to receive just a yellow card for the offence, and while it appeared as though the foul may have been inside the box, the referee awarded a free-kick right on the edge, which substitute Ioannis Fetfatzidis took, blazing it over the bar.
Giovanni Marchese was then unlucky not to get on the scoresheet after a great left-footed volley from the left side of the penalty area, as he showed great technique to ripple the outside of the net and make the fans in the opposite Curva think that he had scored, after he had judged the flight of the ball almost perfectly.
A second penalty was awarded by referee Gianluca Rocchi in the 88th minute, as Gilardino went down once more, but Pegolo saved the shot with his left leg after diving low to his right, and this was perhaps fair, given that the decision to award a spot-kick was dubious to say the least.
Pegolo then made a wonderful reflex save, diving down to his left, as he met Antonelli’s angled drive into the bottom corner, making a similarly great save seconds later from Gilardino, tipping over his left-footed half-volley as the striker was offered a clear shot in the centre of the penalty box.
As the clock wound down in the final minutes of stoppage time, it was clear that Genoa were happy to keep the ball, and they succeeded in maintaining their 2-0 advantage until the final whistle was blown.
