The Genoa wins (3-0) at the Ferraris stadium against Cagliari, in the match valid for the 34th round of Serie A. Great performance from Gilardino’s team, who closed the match against the Sardinians already in the first half hour, thanks to goals from Thorsby and Frendrup. In the second half the Icelandic elf Gudmundsson scores a hat trick. With this victory the Ligurians rise to 42 points in mid-table. Cagliari remains on 32 points, three points ahead of third-last Udinese. In the next round Genoa will visit Milan (5 May at 6pm) while Ranieri’s team hosts Lecce (5 May at 12.30pm).
The match
Gilardino chooses the usual 3-5-2. Gudmundsson leads the attack together with Retegui. Three-man midfield with Badelj, Frendrup and Thorsby. The wingers are Sabelli and Martin. In defense there is space and Vogliacco, de Winter and Vasquez. Martinez in goal.
Ranieri deploys the lone striker Shomudorov, behind him Oristanio and Gaetano. Deiola and Prati in the median, Di Pardo and Augello on the flanks. New three-man defense with Hatzidiakos, Wieteska and Obert. Scuffet in goal.
First half
The home team got off to a better start. In the 13th minute, a corner kicked towards the near post by Martin for De Winter, who jumps higher than anyone but fails to hit the target. After four minutes the rossoblù took the lead. Great cross from the right wing by Sabelli for the central insertion of Thorsby, who doubles the score with a nice header. Genoa doubled their lead in the 27th minute. Badelj starts the action by finding Vasquez free who puts it behind for the insertion of Frendrup, who scores with a nice right hand. Gilardino’s team insists. Low cross from Thorsby for the movement to the near post by Retegui, who finishes on the outside of the net. At the end of the first half we see Cagliari. Soft cross towards the center by Augello for the break by Wieteska, who fails to direct it towards the goal defended by Martinez. Then it was pushed again towards Deiola’s far post for Hatzidiakos who was unable to place the shot.
Second half
Changes immediately for Ranieri. Oristanio leaves for Lapadula, Hatzidiakos for Zappa and Di Pardo for Nandez. In the 53rd minute Thorsby came close to scoring a double. Genoa’s restart started by Gudmundsson, Sabelli goes to cross for the Norwegian’s header, which Scuffet saves. In the 61st minute we see Cagliari with Lapadula, who heads the ball wide of the target. Two minutes pass and Genoa find the hat trick. Frendrup rewards the insertion of Gudmundsson who, after starting the action, finishes it. Nothing to do for Scuffet. Down by three goals, Ranieri’s team tries everything. Nandez draws a cross for Obert who cuts it well but misses the target with his head. In the 86th minute, new substitute Vitinaha tries to do everything alone, creating space to kick with his left foot but raises his aim too much. It ends here, Genoa beats Cagliari 3-0.
The scoreboard
GENOA (3-5-2) – Martinez; Vogliacco, de Winter, Vasquez (73′ Citizens); Sabelli (64′ Spence), Frendrup, Badelj (73′ Bohinen), Thorsby, Martin (64′ Haps); Gudmundsson (78′ Vitinha), Retegui. Trainer: Alberto Gilardino
CAGLIARI (3-4-2-1) – Scuffet; Hatzidiakos (46′ Zappa), Wieteska, Obert; Di Pardo (46′ Nandez), Deiola, Prati, Augello (85′ Mutandwa); Oristanio (46′ Lapadula), Gaetano; Shomurodov (72′ Azzi). Trainer: Claudio Ranieri
Markers: Thorsby (G) 17′, Frendrup (G) 27′, Gudmundsson (G) 63′
Ammonites: Lapadula (C), Augello (C)
Referee: Federico Dionisi (L’Aquila)
