Genoa earned a deserved 3-1 win against AC Milan in their Serie A clash at Stadio Meazza on Wednesday night.
Andrea Bertolacci and Tino Costa earned the Rossoblu their first win at the Giuseppe Meazza against Milan in 57 years. Philippe Mexes stunning strike gave the hosts a short-lived hope before Jeremy Menez was dismissed for two cautions. Iago Falque added a stoppage time penalty to add gloss to the scoreline.
The Rossoneri faced intense Genoa pressure from the outset and had Diego Lopez to thank as he denied Bertolacci within the opening minute and kept Zakarya Bergdich at bay moments later.
Genoa were bar far the better side and Lopez once again proved to be Milan’s saviour as he pulled off another fine save to deny Niang.
Bertolacci twice wasted chances to open the scoring within a minute, first firing just over from distance before he tamely shot at Lopez from deep inside the area.
Despite dominating possession, the Rossoneri were stifled in midfield and Alessio Cerci was the only Milan player to really test Mattia Perin before the break with his low shot being palmed away by the 22-year-old.
Inevitably Genoa took the lead as Bertolacci finally got the better of Lopez. The midfielder was given space to run into and skipped past Adil Rami’s desperate lunge before calmly slotting home under Lopez.
The pace and movement of the Rossoblu front trio were causing the Milan defence endless problems and Iago Falque was next to go close but his effort fizzed past the far post.
Shortly after the break things got worse for Filippo Inzaghi’s men as Genoa doubled their advantage four minutes into the second half.
A swift counter attack started from Perin’s quick throw ended just seconds later with a goal at the other end as Costa’s goal-bound effort from Falque’s cut-back deflected off Niang past Lopez.
The introduction of Giampaolo Pazzini signalled the host’s intentions to find a way back into the game and on 66 minutes they were given a life-line.
Perin had just denied Marco van Ginkel with a wonderful save, but from the resulting corner Mexes was left unmarked outside the box and he unleashed an unstoppable effort that crashed in off the underside of the bar.
The home side’s hopes were severely dented just five minutes later as they were reduced to 10 men after Menez picked up a deserved second booking for a tackle on Edenilson.
Chances were few and far in between in the closing stages as the visitors were content to maintain possession rather than risk losing the ball and they could not beat Lopez in the Rossoneri goal.
In the dying minutes Lopez produced yet more heroics as he pulled off a strong double save to first deny Falque and then Maxime Lestienne from close range.
Ultimately Falque would get his goal as he sent Lopez the wrong way with a late penalty to secure a historic win.
