Genoa Clinch Survival with Gritty Comeback Win at Pisa
Genoa pulled off a vital 2-1 comeback victory away at Pisa to all but secure their Serie A status for next season. Down early from a set-piece goal, the Grifone showed resilience — equalizing before halftime and converting a penalty after the break. With key players missing due to suspension and injury, Daniele De Rossi’s squad dug deep to grab three points that could define their campaign.
How Genoa Turned It Around
Pisa struck first through Simone Canestrelli’s towering header from a corner — exploiting Genoa’s known vulnerability on defensive set pieces. The hosts nearly doubled their lead moments later, but Angori fluffed his one-on-one chance against keeper Justin Bijlow. That miss proved costly.
Genoa responded just before halftime. From a simple throw-in, Tommaso Baldanzi linked with Lorenzo Colombo, who laid it off for Jeff Ekhator. The young forward unleashed a left-foot rocket into the top corner — a moment of pure quality under pressure. They weren’t done. Early in the second half, Canestrelli handled Baldanzi’s shot in the box. Penalty. Colombo stepped up — cool as you like — and buried it into the top corner, despite Genoa’s shaky record from the spot this season.
What This Means for Genoa’s Season
This win wasn’t just about points — it was about mentality. Missing Ruslan Malinovskyi, Morten Frendrup, and Mikael Ellertsson to suspension, plus injured stars Maxwel Cornet and Brooke Norton-Cuffy, Genoa had every excuse to fold. Instead, they adapted. Youngsters like Ekhator and Colombo delivered when it mattered. Goalkeeper Justin Bijlow made critical saves, including a near-post stop from Michel Aebischer late on.
Daniele De Rossi has now overseen back-to-back wins — a massive turnaround after months of instability. Beating Sassuolo and then grinding out a result at rock-bottom Pisa shows his side is learning how to close games. More importantly, they’re learning how to win ugly — a hallmark of teams that survive relegation battles.
Key Factors Behind the Victory
- Set-piece defense still shaky — Canestrelli’s opener exposed Genoa’s ongoing weakness on corners. Fixing this remains urgent before tougher fixtures.
- Youth stepping up — Ekhator and Colombo scored the goals. Neither are established stars, but both showed composure beyond their years.
- Penalty redemption — After missing half their penalties this season, Colombo’s confident conversion was psychologically huge.
- Goalkeeping solidity — Bijlow didn’t just save shots — he commanded his area and organized the backline under pressure.
- Managerial impact — De Rossi’s substitutions and tactical tweaks kept Genoa composed even when chasing the game.
What Comes Next for Genoa
With this win, Genoa move well clear of the relegation zone. Mathematically, survival isn’t guaranteed yet — but realistically, it’s almost certain. Their remaining fixtures include mid-table sides and fellow strugglers. If they maintain this level of fight, they’ll be safe without needing drama on the final day.
The bigger question now is what kind of team Genoa want to be next season. Do they double down on youth development? Bring in experienced Serie A survivors? Or gamble on attacking reinforcements to climb higher? De Rossi’s influence will shape that direction. For now, though, the priority is simple: finish the job.
Key Takeaways
- Genoa beat Pisa 2-1 with goals from Jeff Ekhator and Lorenzo Colombo (penalty).
- Despite multiple suspensions and injuries, Genoa showed depth and mental toughness.
- Simone Canestrelli opened the scoring for Pisa but later gave away the penalty.
- Daniele De Rossi’s leadership is turning Genoa into a harder-to-beat side.
- Survival in Serie A is now virtually assured barring a catastrophic collapse.
— Editorial Team
