Bologna 3 : 2 Genoa - Genoa on the brink

Posted Sunday, April 29, 2012 by PA

Genoa risk leaving Liguria without a Serie A club next season after falling to a 3-2 defeat at Bologna, who have at least ensured that another Emilia-Romagna side will not be following Cesena into Serie B thanks to their seventh home win of the season.

Daniele Portanova gave the home team the lead in the 24th minute and Gaston Ramirez added a second before the break.

Rodrigo Palacio reduced the arrears on the hour mark, but Gyorgy Garics restored Bologna's two-goal advantage soon after.

Cristobal Jorquera gave Genoa hope going into the last 10 minutes, but the defeat means they will end the weekend inside the bottom three if Lecce beat Parma, leaving them three games to save their season.

Genoa seemed to be on top of their game early on, but it was Bologna who took the lead in the 24th minute.

Alessandro Diamanti swung in a free-kick from the left and Portanova met it with a header at the far post which was unstoppable for Frey.

Ramirez made it two in the 38th minute with Diamanti again involved in the build-up, tempting Emiliano Moretti into a foul and drawing him out of play as Garics took over possession with a pass for Marco Di Vaio.

The former Genoa striker's shot was stopped by Frey, but the ball fell out to Ramirez, who powered the ball in.

Genoa were happy to get to the interval without suffering any further damage, but they came out fighting in the second half.

Kakha Kaladze hit the crossbar minutes before Palacio brought the Grifone back into the game in the 59th minute.

Marco Rossi headed the ball on to the Argentinian striker, who headed in past Federico Agliardi to give Genoa hope.

He almost brought them level a minute later when he shot wide of the post, but Bologna soon doubled their advantage with Garics shooting into the corner from 10 yards out in the 67th minute.

Genoa responded again with Palacio winning his battle against three defenders, still managing to get the ball out to Jorquera, who threaded a shot between Agliardi and his near post.

The visitors pushed for an equaliser, but Agliardi was not to be beaten as he plucked the ball out of the air to deny Juraj Kucka in stoppage time before Giuseppe Sculli headed Genoa's last chance wide.