Genoa returns in front of the friendly public after the good draw with Juventus, and after having taken advantage of fifteen days of holidays for the national team commitments.
Certainly the Grifone seen at Marassi against the third to last team in the classFrosinone, did not seem even distantly related to the team that at times put the Bianconeri to the test in Turin.
Game played at a short trotsometimes with too much condescension, and if there was a team that deserved to win, perhaps by points, this was Di Francesco’s.
In the first half the match goes to Frosinone, desperately looking for points, and the Grifone acts on the counterattack; Nonetheless, Martinez sleeps soundly, and isn’t taking any risks.
However, it was Grifone who surprisingly came close to scoring after 11 minutes: corner taken impeccably by Gudmundssonstands above all Testa Vasquez which sends the tool to hit the crossbar: he bursts in like a hawk Sabelli directs the ball into the corner, but the excellent Turati flies to deflect it into the corner.
It’s still Vasquez – among the best – a few minutes later to launch a shot from 30 meters which goes just over the crossbar.
However, surprisingly in the 28th minute Genoa took the lead: Gudmundsson skips 4 opponents like pins in the area, where he finds Okoli who knocks him down; impeccable rigor for Mr. Sacchi. This time there are no discussions, Retegui stays away and Albert himself displaces Turati under the Nord: 1-0!
It’s pure illusion, because a few minutes Frosinone equalizes: on a cross from the right by Zortea, the rossoblu defenders play nice statues, Reiner arrives and in a half-turn he unstoppably beats Martinez: 1-1.
After rest, Gilardino sends Malinovskyi onto the field in place of Spence, and the Griffin seems more square.
But things immediately went badly for Genoa: al 52′ Retegui gets hurt on the ankle and goes out, detected by Haps; it’s not over: in the 60th minute Malinovskyi was also injured who suffers from a flexor problem, Strootman takes his place.
Little by little the match dies down, with the two teams seeming satisfied with the result. In the griffin Ankeye enters for Badelj in the 76th minute and Thorsby for Sabelli.
A very strong shock for the rossoblù fans in the 93rd minute in full injury time: Mr Sacchi sees a hand in the Thorsby area, and awards the penalty kick.
Luckily Mr. Sacchi is not the brave Ayroldi and called back by VAR he goes to check and after seeing it he apologizes and does not award the penalty, it remains at 1-1.
A few jokes, and we all go to the shower. Bad match, played not in perfect mental conditions. And then the injuries to Retegui and Malinovskyi, who join those of Vitinha and Ekuban up front.
For the match in Verona, against the furious Scala team fighting not to be relegated, Genoa could deploy the Messias-Ankeye duo up front.
We’ll know more this week.
Genoa-Frosinone 1-1
Markers 30′ Gudmundsson, 36′ Reiner
Genoa (3-5-2): Martinez 6; Vogliacco 6, Bani 6, Vasquez 7.5; Spence 6 (46′ Malinovskyi s.v., 64′ Strootman 6), Messias 6.5, Badelj 6 (76′ Ankeye 6), Frendrup 6.5, Sabelli 6 (75′ Thorsby 6); Gudmundsson 7, Retegui 6 (54′ Haps 6)
Frosinone (3-4-3): Turati 6.5; Lirola 6, Romagnoli 6, Okoli 5.5; Zortea 6.5, Barrenechea 6, Brescianini 6.5, Valeri 6; Soulè 5.5 (82′ Ibrahimovic sv), Cheddira 6.5 (82′ Cuni sv), Reinier 6.5 (82′ Mazzitelli sv)
Referee: Sacks 7
Note: ammoniti Retegui, Badelj, Luck.
by FRANCO RICCIARDI