GENOA – Inter have been beaten 3-2 by Genoa after a pulsating encounter at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris. Despite taking the lead twice in the first-half through Icardi and then Palacio, the Nerazzurri were pegged back by the hosts before the break, with Kucka heading home at the death to ensure the three points stayed in Liguria.
It was a breathless affair right from the off. Both sides roared out of the blocks, keen to draw first blood. And it took just 60 seconds for the Nerazzurri to create their first chance, with Nagatomo bursting forward and forcing an astute save from Perin.
Inter continued to press, winning numerous corners and packing the Rossoblu half. With the game still in its infancy, Kovacic scuttled down the wing and swung in a perfect ball for Brozovic, but the Croat’s header ended up going behind for a goal-kick.
Genoa fought back through Lestienne. Rincon played in a dangerous cross from the left, but the Belgian’s header was somehow kept out by Handanovic at point-blank range. On 19 minutes, Inter took the lead. Hernanes made great use of the space on the left flank to find Icardi lurking in the box – Edenilson failed to get it away and Maurito made no mistake in slotting past Perin with a calm left-footed effort.
Far from rolling over, Genoa dug their heels in and looked to level things up. First Kucka called Handanovic into action with a long-range strike, then Iago Falque’s shot had to be cleared by Medel. The Rossoblu kept the pressure up and on 24 minutes the Nerazzurri defence was breached. Pavoletti received the ball from Bertolacci on the edge of the box, showing great agility to turn and fire a truly unstoppable shot into the net.
Now it was Inter’s turn to show a response, and that’s exactly what they did. Just six minutes after the equaliser, Icardi nudged the ball on for Palacio, who made no mistake through one-on-one with Perin to restore the Nerazzurri’s advantage.
Incredibly, Genoa came right back at Inter once more, with Pavoletti denied by the crossbar on 32 minutes. Icardi, meanwhile, was a constant threat up front for the Nerazzurri, and had two goals disallowed for offside in the space of 60 seconds in the 38th minute. Down the other end, a defensive mix-up between Ranocchia and Handanovic allowed Lestienne to ghost in and level the scores once more on 42 minutes. The scoreboard read 2-2 at the break.
It was a different game in the second half, with both sides seemingly intent on restoring some order to proceedings. Genoa had the best of the early chances, without ever really troubling Handanovic – Kucka had the best of them, a long-range effort that called the Slovenian keeper into action once more.
Palacio had a great chance to put Inter back in front on 58 minutes. The Argentine cut inside Burdisso, leaving the Genoa man on the turf, but Palacio lost his own footing at the decisive moment. The chance seemed to light the touchpaper once more – Bertolacci stung Handanovic’s palms with another Genoa shot from distance.
Inter were left shaking their heads in the 72nd minute, when Hernanes found a yard of space on the left-hand side of the box only to watch the ball cannon back off the post. Incredibly, the rebound fell to Brozovic, whose powerful effort thundered onto the crossbar before bouncing clear.
Buoyed by the double chance, the Nerazzurri continued to press forward. Hernanes worked Perin once more with a curling free-kick, before Icardi headed just wide from an inch-perfect Shaqiri cross.
The match looked to be heading for a draw, but there was to be a sting in the tail for Roberto Mancini’s men. Genoa won a free-kick in the 89th minute; Edenilson swung it in and it was Kucka who rose highest at the back post to head home for 3-2.
The Nerazzurri threw everything at the Rossoblu in the final exchanges and had a decent shout for a penalty after Icardi hit the deck in the Genoa box, but there was to be no reprieve. The three points stay in Liguria.
GENOA 3-2 INTER
Scorers: Icardi 19, Pavoletti 24, Palacio 30, Lestienne 42, Kucka 89.
GENOA: 1 Perin; 14 Roncaglia, 8 Burdisso, 4 De Maio; 21 Edenilson (Tambè 90+3), 88 Rincon, 91 Bertolacci, 33 Kucka; 24 Iago Falque (Izzo 85), 19 Pavoletti, 16 Lestienne (Laxalt 77).
Subs not used: 23 Lamanna, 39 Sommariva, 10 Perotti, 20 Tino Costa, 35 Soprano, 37 Panico, 38 Mandragora.
Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini.
INTER: 1 Handanovic; 33 D'Ambrosio 28 (Puscas 86), 23 Ranocchia, 5 Juan Jesus, 55 Nagatomo; 10 Kovacic, 18 Medel, 77 Brozovic (Shaqiri 77); 88 Hernanes; 8 Palacio (Bonazzoli 77), 9 Icardi.
Subs not used: 30 Carrizo, 6 Andreolli, 14 Campagnaro, 17 Kuzmanovic, 20 Obi, 21 Santon, 26 Felipe, 27 Gnoukouri, 54 Donkor.
Coach: Roberto Mancini.
Yellow cards: Hernanes 38, Kucka 44, Brozovic 44 , De Maio 62, D'Ambrosio 64, Juan Jesus 87, Roncaglia 90.
Referee: Paolo Tagliavento (Terni).
Assistants: Dobosz and Marrazzo.
Fourth official: Vivenzi.
Additional assistants: Peruzzo and Tommasi.
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LE PAROLE DI MISTER MANCINI POST GENOA- INTER
