A venomous first-half volley from Genoa defender Radu Dragusin was enough to secure all three points in a 1-0 victory over Hellas Verona on Friday evening.
The opening exchanges at the Luigi Ferraris did not provide too much action in either side’s final third. In fact, the first attempt on goal did not come until over 30 minutes into proceedings.
One of the more notable incidents of the first period was an injury picked up by Genoa defender Mattia Bani, who subsequently had to be replaced by Juventus loanee Koni De Winter with 41 minutes gone.
Genoa began to mount the pressure on Verona approaching the final stages of the first half, and after a corner on 43 minutes, Caleb Ekuban struck the post with his left-footed effort from within the area.
The hosts eventually found the breakthrough four minutes shy of half-time.
Ridgeciano Haps reacted best to make contact with a looping ball bouncing towards the edge of the penalty area, before Dragusin latched on to fire a powerful, low-volley into the right-hand side of the Verona net.
Dragusin’s strike would go on to be one of just two shots on target during the first period of play.
Genoa’s injury woes suffered another hit when Eukban went down early into the second half.
George Puscas, Ekuban’s replacement, had a brilliant opportunity to put Genoa two goals up just three minutes after his introduction from the bench.
He was released with a line-breaking through ball, and though seemingly one-one-one, although an excellent intervention from Isak Hien sent the ball looping safely over the crossbar.
Puscas almost netted from the resulting corner as well, although Josep Martinez stood firm to deny him from little over a yard out.
Verona’s closest effort of the game came courtesy of Filippo Terraciano after 72 minutes of action, as struck the post with a curling shot from the left-hand side of the area.
It was the visitors who had the lion’s share of possession in the final stages of Friday’s bottom-half clash, as Marco Baroni encouraged his players to go in search of a leveller.
Genoa, however, never looked particularly threatened as the visitors struggled to get any meaningful balls into the area.
As a result of Friday’s victory, Genoa have lifted themselves into 13th place in the Serie A table, while Verona stay rooted in the relegation zone in 18th. Both sides could be knocked down a position or two depending on results elsewhere over the weekend.
Genoa 1-0 Verona
Dragusin, 44′ (G).