Genoa were knocked out of the Coppa Italia after they lost 2-1 to Alessandria on Tuesday night in the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.
Both teams failed to break the deadlock in the first half despite having numerous clear-cut chances fall their way. However, in the 46th minute the surprisingly skilful Manuel Marras scored the opening goal after a lightning counter-attack.
But in stoppage time Leonardo Pavoletti headed in from a free kick to send the game into extra time. However, Alessandria somehow managed to score the winner through Riccardo Bocalon in the 114th minute.
After a rather energetic but unentertaining 20 minutes Alessandria created the first chance of the match. Marras broke the Grifone’s offside trap before sliding a pass back to Antimo Iunco, but the forward hit his shot straight at Eugenio Lamanna.
Genoa finally awoke and created their first real opportunity. Following a cleaver one-two between Leonardo Pavoletti and Diogo Figueiras, the wing-back fired in a low cross into the path of Panagiotis Tachtsidis.
However, the Greek midfielder hit his shot horribly wide when he should have at least tested the goalkeeper.
10 minutes later Pavoletti missed a great chance. Olivier Ntcham’s through-ball played in Pavoletti who turned sharply but he struck his effort straight at Gianmarco Vannucchi.
Yet, immediately after half-time Alessandria took the lead. Simone Branca drove forward on the counter-attack and with the Genoa defenders scrambled and backtracking, he fed Marras who, in the 18-yard-box, tucked his shot away with aplomb.
The Grifone immediately upped the tempo of their attacking, but they had to wait until the 68th minute to have their first proper chance. Ntcham’s cross was poorly cleared straight to Figueiras, who on the half-volley stung the palms of Vannucchi.
The Rossoblu were struggling to break down a packed L’Orso defence and their next clear cut opportunity came when Serge Gakpe broke into the box before pulling a pass back to Figueiras on the edge of the six-yard-box, yet Portuguese defender fired wide.
However, in stoppage time a Diego Perotti free-kick was headed back across goal by Nicolas Burdisso to Pavoletti who headed in from two yards out to send the game into extra-time.
Genoa were dominating and missed a number of clear cut chances. Serge Gakpe had his shot saved when one-on-one with the goalkeeper before Pavoletti header over from the resulting corner.
Against the run of play Alessandria took the lead. L’Orso broke through a meek Grifone defence before a cross was slid across the six-yard-box which Bocalon tucked away to qualify for the quarter-finals and knock out Genoa.
