Italian Serie B club Genoa scored twice in the final 10 minutes to defeat the MetroStars 2-1 in a friendly match played in the town of Chiavari. The match was a tribute to recently retired defender Nicola Caricola, who played for the Metros in the first half, and for Genoa (his former Italian club) in the second.
Giovanni Savarese, the MetroStars top scorer in 1996, put the team ahead in the 70th minute. He one-timed Brian Kelly’s low cross just inside the near post from about 16 yards out.
Genoa’s Marco Nappi equalized in the 81st minute. After MetroStars keeper Tony Meola made a fine diving save, Nappi blasted home the rebound from 10 yards out.
Nappi gave Genoa the victory five minutes later, when Mike Sorber’s clearance was intercepted, and Nappi headed the resulting cross in for the decisive score.
“I think a tie would have been a fair result, given the way we played,” said MetroStars coach Carlos Alberto Parreira. “Remember, though, we had a very young team on the field, and it was difficult when Genoa brought on so many fresh players in the second half [The Italian club made nine halftime substitutions].”
Caricola, whose wife and son were in attendance, came off the field to a warm ovation from the local fans late in the second half.
Feb. 20 in Chiavari
Genoa 2 MetroStars 1. Goals: Nappi 81, 86; Savarese 70.
Genoa — Lelpo, Nicola, Cavallo, Boronzzi, Morello, Masolini, Franlesconi, Giampietro, Goossens, Periera, Pisano. (Genoa made numerous substitutions in the second half.)
MetroStars — Meola, Caricola (Hendrickson, 46), Harty (Lewis, 75), Kelly, Zavagnin, Donadoni, Sorber, Forzman (guest player), Joseph (Wood, 46), Johnson, Savarese.
Notes: After the match, Mike Sorber returned to the U.S., where he will join the national team at its training camp in Miami…. Rhett Harty broke his nose in a head-to-head collision with Brian Kelly and had to leave the match in the 75th minute. He is not expected to miss any action, however…. Jeff Zaun did not play due to a rib injury and is listed as day-to-day…. Roger Forzman, a Swedish player who has been playing with the Metros as a guest player, will not be seeing any more action with the club.