Tonight, at the Ferraris in Genoa, the postponed matchday 34 between Genoa and Cagliari was played. A postponement with the scent of mathematical salvation for Alberto Gilardino’s training, given the crossroads and the calendar. On the other hand, Claudio Ranieri’s team who, after two important draws against Inter and Juventus, wanted to continue in the wake of positivity, obtain full spoils and move away from the hot zone as soon as possible. But a wild Genoa took home the full spoils thanks to Thorsby in the 17th minute, Frendrup in the 27th minute and Guðmundsson in the 63rd minute. Three points which do nothing but consolidate the Ligurians’ permanence in Serie A, now in 12th place with 42 points. At the end of the match the stadium explodes, the players say goodbye to the curve and the party can begin. Ranieri tried to change strategy in the second half, but was unable to achieve the miracle. For Cagliari, 14th position with 32 points (and immediately behind Verona, Frosinone and Empoli with 31 points), the practical salvation is postponed.
The first fraction it starts with the home team pressing and Cagliari unable to get out of their own half even if they close very well. And it is Thorsby who breaks the deadlock in the 17th minute: a cross from the right by Sabelli for the Norwegian who, at the height of the penalty spot, hits the bottom corner of the goal with his head and beats Scuffet. Genoa continues to manage the match and finds the second goal in the 27th minute with Frendrup who opens the compass and places it at the far post. Ranieri’s men struggled to enter the game and gain ground, but the team failed to overcome Genoa. In the 35th minute an opportunity for Cagliare with Wieteska, but his header misses the target. The Sardinians try to react but Genoa is very careful in the defensive phase. Ranieri asks his players to raise the center of gravity. 1′ of injury time and we return to the changing rooms with a 2-goal lead for Genoa.
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Genoa CFC v Cagliari – Serie A, goal by Morten Frendrup
Second half. We start again with a triple substitution for Cagliari: Di Pardo out, Hatzidiakos, Oristanio, in Nández Acosta, Zappa, Lapadula. But it was the home team who immediately started aggressively again. In the 53rd minute Thorsby was very close to scoring a double, but this time Scuffet saved expertly. It may be mathematical security, but tonight Genoa is unleashed and scores the hat trick with Guðmundsson in the 63rd minute. Obert stops the ball badly, Frendrup steals it from him and serves the Icelander who beats Scuffet with his left foot. Genoa-Cagliari 3-0. The changes also begin for the hosts: Haps comes in, Martin comes out, Spence comes in, Sabelli comes out. Cagliari doesn’t seem to be able to react. The substitutions continue: come on Bohinen goes out Badelj Citizens enter exit VasquezAzzi enters and exits Shomurodov. Guðmundsson is also rested for Vitinha. Standing ovation for the Icelander. In the final, Azzi tries to recover with a diagonal shot that ends wide, while Vitinha twice comes close to scoring the fourth goal. 3′ of injury time and it ends with a trio from Genoa. Warm tribute from the entire stadium for the home team and its coach. Cagliari will still have to fight if they want to stay in Serie A.
Genoa CFC v Cagliari – Serie A, goal by Albert Gudmundsson
Claudio Ranieri: “We must always see the glass half full”
The Cagliari coach after the match: “Congratulations must be given to our opponents, they proved to be better than us and now we have to start again thinking about the direct clash against Lecce. They deserved the victory, playing well, which we didn’t. It’s a shame, but when you play against better opponents you just have to compliment them. Our strength should have been aggression and compactness, but Gilardino with Thorsby added a defense tower for our inactive balls but also a jumper in front of goal. We had several absences, so we did what we could. Salvation quota? I think we will have to have 36 or 37 points but you never know. There are several direct clashes like the next one which will concern us against Lecce, but we must continue step by step trying to score as many points as possible.”
gettyimagesGenoa Vs Cagliari – Serie A, goal by Morten Thorsby
Alberto Gilardino: “Extraordinary group”
Alberto Gilardino’s comment after the crushing victory against Cagliari: “Giant strides have been made in a year and a half, I asked the team to always maintain courage and resourcefulness despite the ranking situation. This evening we saw the best Genoa of the season – the technician immediately admitted –. I asked for resourcefulness, courage and personality, but with 39 points it wasn’t a given to keep the same mentality. This is an extraordinary group, a real team, with all the performers keeping their heads held high throughout the race. Hardly – reveals – I was thinking of a season like this, given the many situations that needed to be resolved at the beginning of the year. But match after match and with some defeats we did something extraordinary, with credit to the work of the boys. Being a few points behind Monza and Turin in the first year of Serie A is truly something important. I asked the players to continue to improve and ask more and more of themselves.”
gettyimagesGenoa CFC v Cagliari – Serie A, goal by Albert Gudmundsson
