Torino secured an important 3-2 win over Genoa on Friday night, as an inspiring performance from Josip Brekalo helped the Granata claim all the spoils against a resilient Rossoblu.
Torino hosted a desperate Genoa on Friday night and the visitors’ coach Davide Ballardini knew he needed something from the game at the Stadio Olimpico di Torino.
But Ivan Juric’s men started the match better and were in front already after 13 minutes, when Christian Ansaldi found Antonio Sanabria, who placed the ball in the net with a neat header at the far post.
The former Genoa man didn’t celebrate the goal against his old teammates but allowed himself to clutch his fists towards the home fans on the way back to his own half.
Genoa struggled with the tempo in the first half and a mistake at the back led to the second goal.
Josip Brekalo snapped up the ball and served Sanabria. The Paraguayan found Tommaso Pobega, who doubled the lead in the 31st minute and thus scored his second in the League.
Torino ran Genoa ragged in the first half and Ballardini’s men looked for fresh faces at the break, bringing on Pablo Galdames and Yayah Kallon after the interval.
But it was the home side who seemed to run away with the match, as a cross from Karol Linetty at left hit Genoa defender Johan Vasquez and the deflection looped over Salvatore Sirigu in the Genoa goal.
But VAR intervened and found a foul in the build-up to the decisive situation and referee Giacomelli disallowed the goal.
The disallowed goal gave the Grifone belief that there was a way back and it was further strengthened when Mattia Destro reduced the deficit with 20 minutes remaining.
The former Roma and Milan striker scored his sixth goal in the League, when Felipe Caicedo found Destro inside the area. He was free from Bremer’s marking and rolled it into the corner behind Vanja Milinkovic-Savic.
But seven minutes later Dennis Praet showed he’s back in action, and accelerated to find the touchline, before giving Brekalo an easy tap-in to make it 3-1 after 76 minutes.
Torino captain Andrea Belotti had entered the match hoping to make an impact on the game, as he fought hard to give Juric’s men the fourth of the night.
But it was at the other end the fifth and final goal would arrive, as former Lazio striker Caicedo kept the Rossoblu in the game.
A great move from Kallon against Ola Aina gave him the space to pick out a perfect ball for the Ecuadorian striker, who couldn’t miss the target.
Some intense final minutes awaited and a nervous home side saw Genoa push for the equaliser, but the final whistle arrived and the pressure on Ballardini is increasing after another defeat in Serie A.
Torino picked up their third win and climb to 11th in the table before the other fixtures are played this weekend.
Torino 3-2 Genoa
Sanabria 13 (T), Pobega 31 (T), Destro 69 (G), Brekalo 76 (T), Caicedo 80 (G)