Serie A: Bologna Wins Thrilling Match Against Genoa 2-1

Bologna edges Genoa 2-1

Bologna defeats Genoa 2-1 in an intense Serie A match, with Riccardo Orsolini scoring the winning penalty in stoppage time.

Santiago Castro brought Bologna level with a stunning moment of brilliance...

Santiago Castro's magical moment and Riccardo Orsolini's contentious 99th-minute penalty secured Bologna's victory over Genoa.

Bologna had a rocky start to the season, with their only win coming against Como, sandwiched between narrow defeats at Roma and Milan. Key players Ciro Immobile, Nicolò Casale, Ibrahim Sulemana, and Tommaso Pobega were sidelined due to injuries, while Emil Holm made a return to the bench.

Genoa, still searching for their first win, showed resilience despite their struggles. They had previously held Como to a last-minute draw, showcasing their ability to compete. However, injuries to Jean Onana and Maxwel Cornet continued to plague the team.

It was almost the perfect start for the hosts, who had the ball in the net after 90 seconds, but Santiago Castro was offside for the diving header on Federico Bernardeschi’s cross.

Devis Vasquez scuffed a finish into Lukasz Skorupski’s arms on a short corner, while Nikola Moro and Bernardeschi had shots charged down in the same move.

Skorupski made a fantastic reaction save on 35 minutes to palm the Aaron Martin strike over the bar from just inside the area, while Riccardo Orsolini flashed an angled drive across the face of goal after a stepover.

Leo Ostigard was forced off the field after sustaining a rib injury. Meanwhile, Skorupski made a crucial double save, denying Mikael Ellertsson and the subsequent follow-up attempt.

Late drama! Bologna come from behind to take all three points! 🤯#BolognaGenoa pic.twitter.com/RIMtEZYZWY

— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) September 20, 2025

In a remarkable display, Skorupski quickly reacted to a header from Ellertsson by rushing out of his box to clear the ball with his head. However, the game's pivotal moment came when Orsolini failed to capitalize on a scoring opportunity, horribly wasting a potential finish after positioning himself ideally.

Ellertsson posed a constant threat, delivering a pinpoint cross to the back post that Vitinha headed onto the side netting. However, this warning was swiftly followed by a Genoa goal, as Ellertsson surged down the right flank in a swift one-two with Ruslan Malinovskyi. He then unleashed a powerful shot at the near post, catching Skorupski off guard and finding the back of the net.

Bologna responded quickly, threatening to equalize. However, Nicola Leali made a spectacular save, palming out a Santiago Castro header from Nadir Zortea's cross, keeping Genoa's lead intact for the time being.

Santiago Castro brought Bologna level with a stunning moment of brilliance. From Nicolò Cambiaghi's low cross from the left, Castro expertly flicked the ball into the far bottom corner with the outside of his right boot while turning from six yards out.

Riccardo Orsolini is the Panini Player of the Match! 🏆#BolognaGenoa pic.twitter.com/14jABbppBv

— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) September 20, 2025

In the 90th minute, Bologna nearly took the lead when Riccardo Orsolini's powerful header hit the underside of the bar and bounced back out. The drama continued into stoppage time when a corner was headed down, hitting Valentin Carboni's arm. After a lengthy VAR review, a penalty was awarded for handball. Orsolini remained calm and scored the penalty, sending Nicola Leali the wrong way and securing a late win for Bologna. However, the victory was marred when Genoa coach Patrick Vieira was sent off for dissent.