Pescara on the up

Two second-half goals lifted Pescara off the foot of the Serie A table with victory over free-falling Genoa.

Two second-half goals lifted Pescara off the foot of the Serie A table with victory over free-falling Genoa. The injury-hit visitors struck the woodwork twice in the first half but their horror run continued as Vladimir Weiss set up both Elvis Abbruscato and Ante Vukusic. Victory was a first in five games in all competitions for Pescara, lifting them up to 18th and above Genoa who have now won just once in nine. Genoa boss Luigi del Neri has had to battle with a long injury list - Andrea Bertolacci, Cesare Bovo, Cristobal Jorquera, Alexandros Tzorvas, Anselmo and Luca Antonelli were all missing today - but their inability to at least score against Serie A's worst defence underlined the size of their problems at the moment. Del Neri's side had started confidently enough with Marco Boriello just failing to get a touch on Michele Canini's left-wing cross while Mattia Perrin was at full stretch to keep out a Daniel Tozser free-kick. Abbruscato fired high over at the other end before Genoa hit the woodwork for the first time. Juan Vargas miscued his cross-shot from the left but it almost tricked Perrin only to hit the crossbar before Juraj Kucka shot over. Perrin was easily the busier goalkeeper and he was at his best to tip a Boriello shot aimed for the top corner over. Christian Terlizzi's clumsy clearance had created the chance and Pescara continued to ride their luck just before half-time as Kucka cleverly chested the ball down before launching a stinging volley against the frame. After sustaining the force of Genoa's attack in the first half Pescara grabbed the lead seven minute after half-time. Weiss was sent free down the left flank and he pulled the ball back to Abbruscato who had the simplest of tasks in tapping the ball in from point-blank range. Weiss started to take control of the game and he skimmed the right post with a shot from the edge of the area before teeing up Vukusic for his first Serie A goal. Genoa goalkeeper Sebastian Frey will feel he should have stopped it as he let the Croatian's weak shot squirm past him and effectively seal the contest with 17 minutes left. Vargas almost pulled a goal back moments later, but his header was wide.