MD29: Genova vs Inter 19/3/08

[Oliver_Kahn]

Serie A Week 29 - 19/3/08 (19.30 UK)

Genoa 1 - 1 Inter
Suazo 12 (I), Borriello 85 (G)
Stadio Ferraris

Marco Borriello's spectacular scissor-kick earned Genoa a deserved point against an Inter side reduced to 10 men for nearly an hour by Pele's dismissal.

The Nerazzurri got back on track with a slender 2-1 win over Palermo, but tension was still high following reported touchline rows with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Luis Figo. Genoa were in worse shape after three defeats on the trot and had Julio Cesar Leon suspended, while they also rested Capocannoniere Marco Borriello.

Lucho Figueroa lost his footing early on as he gathered a Giuseppe Sculli assist, then Santos cleared a David Suazo cutback with Ibra unmarked at the back post. Suazo turned and sprinted at the Genoa defence, but Ibrahimovic fired over the bar.

They changed places and it worked wonders. Ibrahimovic ran on to Esteban Cambiasso's through ball and held off a tackle before rolling across to the back post for the Honduran's tap-in.

Julio Cesar smothered an Abdoullay Konko attempt after good defensive work from Nicolas Burdisso.

However, Inter's already poor disciplinary record worsened just before the break when Pele' received his second booking for a foolish and clumsy tackle on Ivan Juric. It was the eighth time this season the Nerazzurri have gone down to 10 men.

Moments later Danilo's header was charged down in the box as Genoa's hopes were revived. Considering the situation, Genoa threw on Borriello for the second half.

Scarpi rushed out to close down Cristian Chivu's pass to Suazo and got a large cut to his thigh for his troubles. Domenico Criscito fell awkwardly and was stretchered off with a suspected sprained ankle.

Genoa thought they had equalised on 53 minutes when Danilo skipped past Maicon and Figueroa's finish was deflected off Giuseppe Sculli, but the goal was disallowed for an offside position.

Borriello's header from an Ivan Juric cross looped inches over the bar and Julio Cesar captured a Sculli attempt as Genoa laid siege. Borriello could not get enough power into his header from a Sculli cross.

Gaetano De Rosa's header was over and Maxwell had to keep a cool head to clean up. It was backs to the wall as Fabiano's series of crosses caused havoc in the Inter box and Figueroa's effort came so close to Alessandro Lucarelli sliding in.

Borriello spun round for Chivu to deflect it off target and Julio Cesar needed two attempts to get a Juric snapshot under control.

Genoa grabbed a deserved equaliser five minutes from time and it was a spectacular finish from Borriello. Julio Cesar did well to parry a Juric angled drive, but it went into the air and Borriello adjusted his position in a millisecond for a glorious scissor-kick under the bar!

The Rossoblu certainly did not stop there and continued to pour forward looking for an historic victory against 10-man Inter.

Genoa: Scarpi; Konko, Santos (Borriello 46), De Rosa (Fabiano 71), Criscito (A Lucarelli 51); Rossi, Milanetto, Juric; Sculli, Figueroa, Danilo

Inter: Julio Cesar; Maicon, Burdisso, Chivu, Maxwell; Pelé, Cambiasso, Zanetti, Solari (Rivas 46); Ibrahimovic, Suazo (Cruz 69)

Ref: Rocchi

Sent off: Pele' 40 (I)

channel4.com - Football Italia

[Oliver_Kahn]

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[sinoy1]

Boriello is a beast.Milan should recall him.