Home

Yellow tinge to Genoa's Serie A victory over Parma

Staff WritersAP
Genoa's Andrea Pinamonti scores the only goal in his side's Serie A win over Parma. (AP PHOTO)
Camera IconGenoa's Andrea Pinamonti scores the only goal in his side's Serie A win over Parma. (AP PHOTO) Credit: AAP

Mario Balotelli made his first Serie A appearance in four years when he came on as a late substitute in Genoa's 1-0 win over Parma - and earned a yellow card within five minutes.

Balotelli came on in the 86th minute on Monday (Tuesday AEDT) and was booked in injury time for a foul.

The former Italy international signed with relegation-threatened Genoa last week, having last played in Italy's top division with home-town club Brescia in 2019-20.

Parma's winless streak reached nine games with the loss, even though the hosts had the best of the first half, with Valentin Mihaila and Anas Haj Mohamed coming close.

But Genoa took control after the break as Morten Thorsby had a goal disallowed after 49 minutes and Andrea Pinamonti hit the post shortly afterwards.

Pinamonti scored the winner with 11 minutes remaining when he slotted home the rebound from Jeff Ekhator's low shot.

The Game Cricket 2024-25

It was Genoa's first win since beating Monza on August 24 and moves them off the bottom of the standings and into 17th place. Parma are in 15th spot.

In other action, Empoli earned their first home win of the Italian league season, a goal two minutes into the second half from Pietro Pellegri enough to beat Como 1-0.

The on-loan Torino striker took advantage of poor defending before driving into the penalty box and scoring from an angle.

It was Empoli's first goal at home this season. They have scored only eight times in 11 matches, but are still in 11th place in Serie A thanks to a strong defence that has conceded just nine times.

Como stayed in 16th spot on the ladder.

In Lazio, the home side beat Cagliari 2-1 thanks to a late penalty from Mattia Zaccagni.

Lazio were gifted the lead after just two minutes when Simone Scuffet spilled Luca Pellegrini's free kick right at the feet of Boulaye Dia, giving him easiest of finishes to notch his eighth goal of the season.

Zito Luvumbo equalised for Cagliari four minutes before halftime when the Angolan striker spun and his shot took a deflection that wrong-footed the Lazio keeper and rolled into the net.

Zaccagni then made no mistake from the spot with 14 minutes remaining after Pellegrini was felled by Nadir Zortea.

Two Cagliari players were sent off shortly afterwards. Yerry Mina was first given a second booking for a foul, and Ndary Adopo also earned a second yellow for complaining about the decision.

The win lifts Lazio into fifth place, a point above Juventus and level with Fiorentina and Atalanta. Cagliari remain in 16th spot.

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails