Genoa have kept their hopes of securing a Europa League spot alive with a 3-1 win over AC Milan at San Siro in Serie A this evening, giving them their fourth win in five league outings.
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Genoa were on the attack from the start, forcing a save from Diego Lopez less than a minute into the tie as Andrea Bertolacci tried to rifle the ball home from the edge of the box, but the Milan keeper made the stop.
The visitors continued to look the more likely early on as M'Baye Niang created a couple of chances, including one which forced Lopez to tip the ball behind while making a diving save.
Alessio Cerci had the best chance of the first half for the hosts when a high ball forward fell to him near the penalty spot, but he was unable to beat Mattia Perin with a header.
Genoa's superior possession paid off before the interval though as Bertolacci burst forward before rounding a couple of defenders, leaving him to slot the ball into the bottom corner.
It did not take the visitors long to double their advantage after the break as Iago Falque set up Tino Costa, who chipped the ball past Lopez from close range less than five minutes after the restart, although Niang got the final touch, deflecting the ball in.
Costa could have added another on the hour after Genoa cleared a Nigel de Jong header to launch the striker on a counter-attack, but his 20-yard strike drifted wide.
Perin was called into action as the hosts tried to get back into the match, but the keeper comfortably denied Giacomo Bonaventura as he tried to squeeze an effort from out wide beneath the crossbar.
The home side did manage to cut Genoa's lead with over 25 minutes remaining when Philippe Mexes got forward to help out in attack, creating some space on the edge of the box before unleashing a powerful and accurate finish into the bottom corner.
Milan's chances of completing the comeback were dealt a blow just a few minutes later though as Jeremy Menez picked up his second booking of the night, leaving the hosts a man short for the final 20 minutes.
Lopez was tested twice in the final stages as Genoa pushed for a third goal, but the keeper did enough to keep the difference at just one goal heading into stoppage time.
However, Mexes tripped Falque in the box with just a few seconds remaining, handing the visitors a penalty that the aggrieved striker stepped up to take himself, slotting into the bottom right to seal the win.
The result lifts Genoa up to sixth in the table, just one point off a Europa League spot, while AC Milan remain 10th in the standings.
Sian Cowper
