When Genoa and Siena met on Saturday, it could have easily been a dull, drab affair. Siena sit inside the relegation zone, just one point behind 17th-placed Genoa. Neither side is exactly known for their goal scoring prowess, each having scored just 29 before the match. It would have been safe, and likely expected, if both teams had simply sat back and played out a 0-0 draw.
Genoa vs Siena, final score 2-2: points split in thrilling relegation battle
Rather than a dull display of cautious football, relegation contenders Genoa and Siena went all out for the nearly the entire match, taking turns leading before ultimately splitting the points.
Instead, Genoa kicked off the scoring before they'd even reached the tenth minute. Adrián Calello brought down Matuzalem, earning Genoa a free kick. Marco Boriello got on the end of it and, thanks to a huge deflection off Siena defender Massimo Paci, the ball landed in the back of the net.
Siena did their best to find a way back into the match, but their best attempt was a long-range shot from Alessio Sestu, who got on the end of a cross from Alessandro Rosina. Sebastien Frey did well to smother that attempt, but he could do nothing to stop Innocent Emeghara's equalizer late in the half. Paci interfered again, this time to his side's benefit, heading on a corner that Emeghara slipped past Frey.
The excitement continued when the second half resumed, with Genoa forced to block a shot from Calello almost immediately. The home side were left wrong-footed, and it showed when Cesare Bovo climbed atop Setsu, causing the ref to blow his whistle. It was Rosina that stepped to the spot, easily slotting his kick into the bottom right corner.
Tensions increased as Genoa tried to force their way back into the match, sending in shot after shot as Siena desperately blocked, shoved, and pushed the ball away. The rossoblu finally found their equalizer in the 71st minute. Ciro Immobile, coming off the bench (don't ask why; we don't pretend to know the mind of Davide Ballardini), sped off down the left before sending the ball across the face of goal. The tap in was simple enough for Bosko Jankovic, particularly since Gianluca Pegolo was already heading the opposite direction.
Genoa made a few attempts at finding the winner, with Jankovic denied a brace by Pegolo, and Immobile's header also saved. The robur, however, were content with just a point, perhaps feeling it will be easier for them to get a result next week against Parma than it will be for Genoa to find points against Napoli.
Genoa: Sebastien Frey, Thomas Manfredini, Daniele Portanova, Cesare Bovo (Andreas Granqvist 74), Emiliano Moretti (Ciro Immobile 56), Luca Antonelli, Matuzalem (Rigoni 92), Juraj Kucka, Bosko Jankovic, Cristóbal Jorquera, Marco Borriello
Siena: Gianluca Pegolo, Felipe, Massimo Paci, Claudio Terzi, Mateo Rubin, Francesco Della Rocca, Adrián Calello (Francesco Bolzoni 87), Angelo, Alessio Sestu (Reginaldo 63) Alessandro Rosina (Simone Vergassola 68), Innocent Emeghara
Goals: Borriello 6 (G), Emeghara 43 (S), Rosina PK52 (S), Jankovic 71 (G)
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