Sculli seals late win for Genoa

Giuseppe Sculli scored a winner in added time after Genoa CFC had squandered a two-goal lead against LOSC Lille Métropole in the closing stages of a rainswept match in UEFA Europa League Group B.

Changing places
The hosts looked to be cruising after Argentinian strikers Rodrigo Palacio and Hernán Crespo scored in each half, only for Pierre-Alain Frau to pull one back in the 76th minute and fellow substitute Gervinho to level in the 84th, before the dramatic ending. The result leaves the section open with Lille still top on seven points, Valencia CF leading Genoa on head-to-head record with six points apiece and SK Slavia Praha on two points after their 2-2 home draw with the Spanish side.

Palacio pounces
Lille made a bright start but it was the hosts who drew first blood, Alberto Zapatero providing the long pass and Palacio chesting the ball down before smacking a half-volley past Mickaël Landreau. Crespo nearly added a second before the break when Palacio's pass took a deflection which teed up the striker for a one-on-one with Landreau and a low shot that flew just wide of the far post.

Crespo chance
Crespo scuffed a shot wide from close range soon after the restart, but two minutes later it was third time lucky as he managed to scoop the ball into the roof of the net following a scramble inside the box. Lille almost pulled one back straight away when Larsen Touré could only direct his header over the bar, yet Frau enjoyed better luck with his far-post effort from a corner which goalkeeper Alessio Scarpi fumbled and could not keep out.

Dramatic ending
Lille suddenly grew in confidence and Gervinho brought the French side level when he beat Scarpi at his near post with a deflected shot. It seemed destined to earn his side a precious point, only for Sculli to collect Raffaele Palladino's dinked pass and supply a classy finish into the far corner.