Not even the bravest of mice dared to stir before kick-off or throughout the majority of the first half at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris on Sunday evening, despite Genoa starting brightly on the pitch and putting Empoli to the sword with two goals in the opening 45 minutes to seal a 2-1 victory.
The Grifone ultras planned 43 minutes of silence to honour the lives lost in the recent Ponte Morandi tragedy but in reality, their show of respect started well in advance of the action getting underway. Players’ names were called out to no response as the teams were confirmed before the players came onto the field to minimal applause.
An impeccably observed minute’s silence followed and even as the game kicked off, fans shushed others who so much as spoke to those beside them and on-field orders could be heard only slightly more clearly than the clicking of photographers’ cameras around the Marassi.
A near-chance for Christian Kouame briefly broke the silence. Ex-Rossoblu Luca Antonelli appeared to under-hit a backpass and the Ivorian looked to pounce, but a gasp of excitement was ended as abruptly as it started with the crowd soon falling quiet once more.
Habitual applause to recognise Genoa’s winning of a free-kick or corner sporadically broke out but they were again swiftly stopped as the responsible culprits remembered the occasion.
Even Krzysztof Piatek giving the hosts a lead within ten minutes was met with little reaction. The Pole got on the end of a cross from Domenico Criscito and stabbed a right-footed volley home to send the hosts in front but the Genoa supporters greeted their first goal of the season with little more than a brief cheer and respectful applause.
The lively Kouame then deservedly doubled the lead, getting free down the left before emphatically driving a low shot across goal into the bottom corner.
As the 43rd minute arrived the Marassi rose in applause as the names of the Morandi victims were displayed on the screen and the ultras then burst into song and barely stopped until after the final whistle.
Throughout the second half, the Azzurri looked to reduce the deficit but Davide Ballardini’s side stood compact and managed the game well, looking to spring counterattacks at any opportunity.
Empoli did score through Samuel Mraz in stoppage time but there was little chance of them ever mounting a comeback.
Capitano Criscito
Domenico Criscito’s return to Italy this summer was not necessarily a surprise, but that he turned up at Genoa again absolutely was.
Wearing the captain’s armband, Criscito delivered a performance that showed that at 31 he still has plenty to offer. The Italy international assisted Piatek’s opener with a pinpoint cross onto the striker’s boot and was always keen to offer himself as a reinforcement to the attack.
Defensively, he was solid and versatile. Not always staying wide on the left, he identified trouble early and often drifted into central positions to cut out runs or to intercept slightly loose passes. With Criscito in their ranks, Diego Laxalt’s absence will be felt a lot less than it otherwise would be.
Forget Cristiano, meet Christian
It was a Serie A debut to remember for Christian Kouame as he caused havoc in the Empoli defence and deservedly got himself on the scoresheet in the process.
The Ivorian, who had spent time at Inter’s Primavera, only arrived in Liguria from Cittadella in July, where he scored 15 times and assisted 15 more in 63 appearances.
The Grifone have been waiting for another young striking talent to come along since Giovanni Simeone moved on to Fiorentina and although it is early there are reasons to get excited about the 20-year-old.
