Veloso scores late winner for Genoa

Published Nov. 21, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Genoa left it late to beat Novara 1-0 in a game which saw both sides end with just 10 men.

Miguel Veloso scored the only goal of the game in the 86th minute after Luca Antonelli and Riccardo Meggiorini were sent off.

There were chances at both ends and Novara can count themselves unlucky for failing to find the back of the net or get a point at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris having hit the crossbar in the second half and gone close numerous other times.

Kevin Constant could have given Genoa a flying start in the second minute, but his angled shot missed the far post by inches.

Five minutes later, Marco Rigoni tested Sebastien Frey with a shot from just outside the penalty area.

The next chance fell the home side's way with Antonelli's shot pushed behind by Novara goalkeeper Alberto Fontana for a corner.

Raffaele Rubino had the visitors' next chance in the 40th minute, but his header grazed the outside of the post on its way wide of the target.

Antonelli was given his marching orders just two minutes before the interval when he committed a foul on Andrea Mazzarani outside the penalty area, denying the Novara midfielder a clear run on goal.

It was difficult to understand whether the boos from the home fans at the half-time whistle were for the referee's decision or, more likely, for Genoa's poor performance.

Genoa went close to breaking the deadlock early in the second half when Andrea Caracciolo's shot was saved by Fontana.

Rigoni then hit the crossbar at the other end after Genoa failed to clear their lines from a corner and the home side were clearly struggling as Rubino was next to go close for the visitors.

However, their hopes of winning suffered a blow when Meggiorini was sent off 10 minutes from time.

He was first shown a yellow card for a foul and his subsequent protests earned him a second booking.

The red card woke Genoa up and they grabbed the winner in the 86th minute with Portuguese midfielder Veloso scoring with a shot from the edge of the penalty area with his supposedly weaker right foot.

There were no boos at the final whistle, just cheers of joy as Genoa picked up all three points.