Serie A | Genoa 2-2 Cagliari: Vieira pays the penalty on debut

Originally posted on Football Italia | By Susy Campanale | Last updated Nov 24, 2024 8:31 AM ET

Patrick Vieira picked up a 2-2 draw on his debut as Genoa coach, as Cagliari converted two penalties to cancel out the Morten Frendrup and Fabio Miretti goals.

The Grifone surprised everyone by sacking Alberto Gilardino on Wednesday, despite four points from the last two games going into the break for international duty. The injury crisis was calming with Johan Vasquez, Mattia Bani, Brooke Norton-Cuffy, David Ankeye, Junior Messias, Pierluigi Gollini and Vitinha all back in the squad, though Caleb Ekuban, Koni De Winter, Jeff Ekhator and Ruslan Malinovskyi were still missing. Cagliari ended a run of three consecutive defeats by holding Milan in a 3-3 thriller.

See how it unfolded on the Liveblog.

It was a bad start for Vieira, who switched to a four-man defence, because after six minutes Yerry Mina’s header down on a corner struck Morten Thorsby’s arm and a penalty was awarded following a VAR review. Razvan Marin sent Nicola Leali the wrong way to give Cagliari the lead.

Genoa equalised straight away, a long Alessandro Zanoli throw-in flicked on by Andrea Pinamonti for Morten Frendrup to thump in on the half-volley from 14 yards, reacting quicker than the Cagliari defenders.

They nearly turned it around moments later when Fabio Miretti controlled a smart Milan Badelj ball over the top, but his finish was inches past both teammate Frendrup and the far post.

Roberto Piccoli’s header also skimmed the crossbar for the visitors and Zanoli stung the Cagliari goalkeeper’s gloves from a tricky angle, but Bani got away with a clumsy diving defensive header that squirmed under him.

Gianluca Gaetano almost gave Cagliari the lead going into the break, but Leali got down to fingertip his low drive round the post.

Gaetano also wasted a huge chance when Leali’s pass out from the back was intercepted, firing it straight at the goalkeeper, and that proved costly.

Moments later, Thorsby burst down the right and pulled back from the by-line for Miretti to sweep in first-time from 10 yards.

Genoa kept pushing with a series of opportunities, including Thorsby drilling wide and a Pinamonti angled drive testing Alen Sherri.

Cagliari threatened in the final stages with Leali able to smother the Leonardo Pavoletti diving header, eventually earning another penalty when Piccoli with raised boot got to the loose ball before Aaron Martin. The striker converted too and as a former Genoa man, did not celebrate.

Nicolas Viola was shown a straight red card in stoppages, but it was changed to yellow following a VAR review, as he was able to just pull out of the high sliding tackle before catching Milan Badelj.

Genoa 2-2 Cagliari

Marin pen 8 (C), Frendrup 12 (G), Miretti 59 (G), Piccoli pen 88 (C)

24-11-2024 11:30 MatchDay 13 Stadio Luigi Ferraris

Genoa

Cagliari 2 - 2

Player statistic

1st half

		8'		Răzvan Marin
Morten Frendrup		12'

2nd half

Fabio Miretti (Assist: Morten Thorsby)

59' 66' Răzvan Marin Aarón Martín 79' Mattia Bani 86' 88'

Roberto Piccoli 90+4'

Nicolas Viola Genoa Cagliari

Starting lineups

1 Nicola Leali Goalkeeper 3

Aarón Martín Defender 89' 33 Alan Matturro Defender 59 Alessandro Zanoli Defender 77' 13

Mattia Bani Defender 20

Stefano Sabelli Defender 68' 23 Fabio Miretti Midfielder 77' 47

Milan Badelj Midfielder 32 Morten Frendrup Midfielder 2

Morten Thorsby Midfielder 19

Andrea Pinamonti Attacker 89' 71 Alen Sherri Goalkeeper 28 Gabriele Zappa Defender 19 Nadir Zortea Defender 64' 6

Sebastiano Luperto Defender 3

Tommaso Augello Defender 64' 26

Yerry Mina Defender 70

Gianluca Gaetano Midfielder 76' 8

Michel Adopo Midfielder 76' 18

Răzvan Marin Midfielder

68' 91

Roberto Piccoli Attacker 77 Zito Luvumbo Attacker

Substitutes

72 Filippo Melegoni Midfielder 11

Gastón Pereiro Midfielder 8 Emil Bohinen Midfielder 39 Daniele Sommariva Goalkeeper 95

Pierluigi Gollini Goalkeeper 73 Patrizio Masini Midfielder 55 Federico Accornero Attacker 27 Alessandro Marcandalli Defender 30 David Ankeye Attacker 15 Brooke Norton-Cuffy Defender 10

Junior Messias Attacker 68' 22

Johan Vásquez Defender 77' 14 Alessandro Vogliacco Defender 77' 9 Vitinha Attacker 89' Mario Balotelli Attacker 89' 22

Simone Scuffet Goalkeeper 21

Jakub Jankto Midfielder 24

José Luis Palomino Defender 97 Mattia Felici Attacker 9

Gianluca Lapadula Attacker 23

Mateusz Wieteska Defender Giuseppe Ciocci Goalkeeper 16 Matteo Prati Midfielder 37 Paulo Azzi Attacker 80 Kingstone Mutandwa Attacker 30

Leonardo Pavoletti Attacker 64' 33 Adam Obert Defender 64' 29

Antoine Makoumbou Midfielder 68' 14

Alessandro Deiola Midfielder 76' 10

Nicolas Viola Midfielder

76'