Genoa overturned a halftime deficit to claim a thrilling 3-2 victory over Bologna in a Serie A clash that turned on a pivotal red card at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.
Bologna drew first blood in the 35th minute when Lewis Ferguson found the net to give the visitors a deserved lead. But the match flipped dramatically just after the restart when Bologna defender S. Otoa inadvertently turned the ball into his own net in the 47th minute, leveling proceedings.
The turning point arrived in the 57th minute when Bologna goalkeeper L. Skorupski received a straight red card, forcing the visitors to play a man down for over half an hour. Manager’s responded with Benjamín Domínguez entering the fray in the 61st minute, but Genoa seized control.
Ruslan Malinovskyi capitalized on the numerical advantage in the 62nd minute, firing Genoa ahead for the first time. The Ukrainian midfielder received a yellow card later for his troubles but had already made his mark. Caleb Ekuban extended the lead in the 78th minute with a clinical finish, earning an impressive 8.2 match rating.
Bologna, despite dominating possession (51.5%) and registering 13 shots to Genoa’s eight, struggled to break down the resolute home defense. The visitors’ lack of cutting edge showed as only three of their attempts troubled the keeper.
Junior Messias sealed the points in the 90th minute, capping a sensational second-half display. Alessandro Marcandalli proved instrumental throughout, registering two assists and two key passes from his defensive position.
Though Bologna controlled the ball, Genoa’s ruthless efficiency—converting six shots on target into three goals—and superior tackling (80% to 60%) made the difference in a captivating encounter that swung dramatically after Skorupski’s dismissal.
