Juventus 3 : 2 Genoa - Toni strike hands Juve victory

Posted Sunday, April 10, 2011 by PA

Luca Toni scored a late winner to earn Juventus a 3-2 win against his former club Genoa.

An own goal from Leonardo Bonucci in the seventh minute was cancelled out by another own goal at the other end from Marco Rossi in the 51st minute.

Antonio Floro Flores then put Genoa ahead for the second time in the 57th minute, but Alessandro Matri brought the home team back on terms again within six minutes.

Toni then scored the winner in the 83rd minute before missing a glorious chance to add a fourth for Luigi Delneri's men, who won their second game in a row to move back into contention for a place in Europe next season.

The visitors went ahead in the seventh minute when Luca Antonelli's cross was deflected inside the near post by Leonardo Bonucci, leaving Juve goalkeeper Marco Storari no chance.

Bonucci tried to make amends in the 39th minute with a close-range header which Eduardo pushed away.

Five minutes later, Simone Pepe headed into the side-netting after getting in front of Giandomenico Mesto as Juve ended the half on the attack.

Pepe had the first chance of the second half too with his shot taking a slight deflection to make the save an awkward one for Eduardo, who just managed to tip the ball over the crossbar.

And Pepe had a hand in Juve's equalising goal as his header from Alberto Aquilani's cross took a decisive deflection off the shoulder of Marco Rossi to loop into the top corner, beyond the reach of Eduardo in the 50th minute.

Juve took heart from the stroke of luck and Milos Krasic almost beat Eduardo with a low shot three minutes later.

However, it was Genoa who regained the lead in the 57th minute when Antonelli pulled the ball back to Floro Flores, who needed one touch to control the ball and another to shoot in off the inside of the right-hand post from 10 yards out.

Their lead lasted only six minutes this time before Matri brought Juve level again.

Substitute Toni's first touch of the game was a neat backheel to Matri, who made room for his shot into the far corner from close to the penalty spot.

Toni almost scored against his old club in the 72nd minute, but he just failed to make contact with a left-wing corner.

Toni was involved in creating another chance for Pepe just two minutes later, but the Italy international's shot was saved by Eduardo's leg.

And Toni then got the final word as he shrugged off the attentions of Dario Dainelli before lifting the ball past Eduardo.

He even missed a one-on-one with Eduardo in stoppage time, but he had already done enough to earn the Bianconeri all three points and keep them in the hunt for a place in Europe next season.