Torino v Genoa: Yet Another Bloody Draw

By: Martha | December 2nd, 2007

Boriello. Wha? For those of you who haven’t been keeping track, today’s 1-1 finish means Torino have drawn 64 times this season. Alright, it’s not that many, but it sure feels like it: Of the 14 matches they’ve played, they’ve now drawn NINE times, twice more than anyone else in Serie A. The result is that, though they’ve only lost three times, they’re only on 15 points and still uncomfortably close to the drop zone. Genoa, meanwhile, despite starting the season on fire, have come back down to earth rather solidly over the past several rounds, and started the day even with Torino on points.

Despite the importance of every single point to both teams, though, the match was a surprisingly open one, and Torino actually had options going forward, with David Di Michele, Alvaro Recoba and Alessandro Rosina all looking to attack. Genoa, of course, have about a zillion dangerous attackers, which made it all the more surprising when the hosts started the brighter of the two sides. Di Michele made a terrible mess of a great chance from short range, while Recoba came close with a shot from just over the half line; Genoa’s substitute keeper Alessio Scarpi got back just in time to avoid total humiliation. Torino had other half-chances, too, but Cesare Bovo was having a standout match in the Genoa defense, and got several crucial touches against the club with whom he spent much of last season on loan.

Leon came on for Genoa to start second half and, though Torino contained him admirable well, his energy did wake his team up a bit, and it was the visitors who went ahead shortly after the restart. Marco Di Vaio started the move with a cheeky backheel, and Fabiano crossed to an unmarked Marco Boriello, who had nothing to do but tap the ball home. Torino stay positive, though, and managed to grab the equalizer less then 10 minutes later, when the ball fell to substitute Nicola Ventolla in the box and he hoofed it goal-ward. It was going in anyway, but Salvatore Lanna snuck in and stole the goal, his first for Toro.

Both teams had fantastic chances to win in the last 20 minutes, but neither Ventolla nor The Other Lucarelli was able to bundle loose balls home from practically right on the goal line, and it finished 1-1.