GENOA - Eugenio Lamanna put in a man-of-the-match performance as Genoa narrowly beat Inter this afternoon at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.
Stefano Pioli opted to line up in his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation against the Rossoblu, with Mauro Icardi leading the line supported by Antonio Candreva, Ivan Perisic and Eder. Marco Andreolli was handed a start in a defence hit by injuries as well.
The first half was a tense, bitty affair that wasn't helped by the referee's insistence on frequently stopping play.
Darko Lazovic fired a couple of dangerous-looking crosses into the area during the game's opening exchanges but no one was on hand to convert them.
In the 22nd minute, former Inter man Goran Pandev had the first clear-cut chance of the encounter when Raffaele Palladino set him up in the penalty area, but his shot was too central to trouble Samir Handanovic.
Shortly later, Genoa keeper Lamanna was called into action twice in quick succession and excelled on both occasions. Firstly, he tipped Eder's shot from distance around the post and then from the resulting corner he somehow managed to change direction and get down to palm away a deflected Candreva shot.
Inter's best chance of the half came four minutes before the interval: Perisic flew down the left wing and broke into the area, firing a low cross into the six-yard box, but unfortunately it evaded the clutches of both Candreva and Eder.
Genoa started the second half the better team, but it was the Nerazzurri who created the first decent opening, again through Perisic. The Croatian burst into the area and shot, drawing another decent save by the Rossoblu shotstopper. The rebound fell to Icardi, but the captain couldn't manage to set himself properly allowing the defence to clear.
Inter were made to pay for their profligacy in front of goal when Genoa took the lead with 20 minutes to go. Miguel Veloso thundered a shot onto the bar, via Handanovic's fingertips, but the ball fell invitingly to Pandev unmarked in the area and the Macedonian volleyed home.
Pioli's men tried to react and it looked like they might salvage a point when Nicolas Burdisso handled in the area and the referee awarded a penalty kick. Icardi had been substituted by that point, so Candreva nominated himself to take it, but Lamanna was clearly having an inspired day, as he correctly read his fellow Italian's spot-kick and palmed it away.
In the aftermath, Geoffrey Kondogbia was shown a red card for dissent and Genoa successfully held on in the remaining minutes for a valuable three points.
Genoa 1-0 Inter (HT: 0-0)
Scorers: Pandev 70
GENOA: 23 Lamanna; 14 Biraschi, 8 Burdisso, 3 Gentiletti; 22 Lazovic (24 Munoz, 74), 44 Veloso, 30 Rigoni, 94 Cataldi, 16 Beghetto; 11 Palladino (4 Cofie, 89), 9 Simeone (27 Pandev, 19).
Subs not used: 83 Rubinho, 38 Zima, 4 Cofie, 10 Ntcham, 15 Hiljemark, 17 Taarabt, 28 Brivio, 32 Morosini, 98 Asencio, 99 Ninkovic.
Coach: Ivan Juric.
INTER: 1 Handanovic; 33 D'Ambrosio, 17 Medel, 2 Andreolli, 55 Nagatomo (19 Banega, 82); 5 Gagliardini, 7 Kondogbia; 87 Candreva, 23 Eder (96 Barbosa, 72), 44 Perisic; 9 Icardi (8 Palacio, 72).
Subs not used: 30 Carrizo, 98 Radu, 6 Joao Mario, 11 Biabiany, 20 Sainsbury, 21 Santon, 77 Brozovic, 94 Yao, 99 Pinamonti.
Coach: Stefano Pioli.
Yellow cards: Lazovic 37, Nagatomo 54, Biraschi 60, Medel 77, Burdisso 86, Rigoni 92.
Red cards: Kondogbia 88.
Additional time: 1+3 minutes.
Referee: Antonio Damato.
Assistants: Marco Barbirati, Fabrizio Posado.
Fourth official: Rodolfo Di Vuolo.
Additional assistants: Daniele Doveri and Rosario Abisso.
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