Genoa 4 : 2 Lecce - More misery for Lecce

Posted Saturday, April 23, 2011 by PA

Genoa honoured their Serie A obligations with a 4-2 win over relegation-threatened Lecce which did their city rivals Sampdoria a favour in their relegation battle.

Davide Di Michele put the visitors in front in the third minute, but Genoa hit back with Antonio Floro Flores' goal seven minutes later.

Di Michele restored Lecce's advantage after half an hour, but Rodrigo Palacio brought the home team level again just before the break.

Further goals from Palacio and Floro Flores in the second half sealed Genoa's second straight win at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris to leave Lecce in danger at the bottom and allow Sampdoria, who beat Bari, to move level on points with the Apulians in the battle for safety.

Lecce went ahead in the third minute with Di Michele picking his spot in the top far corner of Eduardo's goal after being sent into the penalty area by Ruben Olivera.

The goal was met by the approval of many of the Genoa fans too as a win for Lecce would have compromised the chances of Sampdoria avoiding relegation.

However, any thoughts that Genoa would gift Lecce all three points were misplaced as the home side levelled seven minutes later.

Floro Flores was put through on goal and he made no mistake, sliding his shot past Antonio Rosati into the bottom corner.

The home side took control of the game with Floro Flores shooting just wide in the 18th minute and then a mistake by Giulio Donati let Luca Antonelli in, but he dragged his shot wide of the far post.

Lecce regained the lead on the half-hour mark with Di Michele receiving the ball in space at the far post following a corner and he slotted his shot just inside Eduardo's near post with more signs of approval from the Genoa fans behind the goal.

But Genoa levelled again in the 42nd minute when Palacio took advantage of some confusion in the Lecce six-yard box to beat Rosati at the second attempt.

Palacio put Genoa in front for the first time in the 54th minute, meeting Omar Milanetto's corner at the near post to head in from close range.

Genoa's integrity could no longer be questioned in the 61st minute when Floro Flores ghosted in at the far post to meet Domenico Criscito's cross and make it four for the home side, just as news had filtered through that Sampdoria had gone ahead in Bari and the home fans had reaffirmed their preference for Lecce to score.

If Genoa's integrity could be doubted, it was for blatantly invoking yellow cards for the only three players who were one booking away from an automatic one-match suspension.

Palacio, Dario Dainelli and Milanetto all received yellow cards for petty infringements which mean they will miss the trip to Napoli next weekend, but return for the derby against Sampdoria in a fortnight.