Nico Paz Proves Why He Is Serie A’s Golden Boy Despite Genoa Heartache

Rarely has an individual looked less impressed holding a Player of the Match trophy.

Nico Paz had spent the previous 90 minutes orchestrating the Como midfield, twisting and contorting his way out of trouble and laying on chance after chance for his teammates. It appeared his efforts had been enough to seal a vital win, before last-gasp drama robbed him of a match-winning display.

Lucas Da Cunha had graciously accepted his invitation to open the scoring in the first half at the Luigi Ferraris stadium, firing past Genoa goalkeeper Nicola Leali inside 17 minutes after the Argentine had teed him up on the edge of the area.

Shortly afterwards his perfectly-weighted pass set up Alieu Fadera, but his effort was beaten away. He did the same for Patrick Cutrone in the second half, and although the former Milan striker found the bottom corner, the celebrations were abruptly ended when VAR intervened. The striker had mistimed his run by the barest of margins.

All served to set the scene for a familiar tale to play out for Cesc Fabregas’s men. Alessandro Vogliacco’s 92nd-minute equaliser was the sixth stoppage-time goal they’ve conceded in just 12 Serie A outings this season. It also ensured the wait for their first clean sheet of the season goes on, too.

And it also meant that the expression on Paz’s face when he received his award was a little less euphoric than it had been a matter of minutes earlier.

In the 67th minute he had been beaming. Such was his role in Cutrone’s disallowed strike that the replacements running onto the field to celebrate made a beeline for its creator. Andrea Belotti, a veteran of Italy’s top flight, said it all with a shake of the head in disbelief as he waited his turn to congratulate him. This, it is clear, is not your average 20-year-old.

This had been a performance that defied his age, Paz ignoring the gaps in experience around him caused by injuries to conduct his own tune in midfield.

He completed 44 of his 47 passes, ensuring once again that his side dominated possession – as they have done more often than not this season. There were eight key passes, and a strong save drawn out of Leali moments before the opening goal.

It is already the second time this season the former Real Madrid starlet has been given the top honour after a match. He also received recognition for his performance against Parma last month – another 1-1 draw.

While the late goal delivered a pang of injustice, it is all part of the steep learning curve Paz – and Como – are riding this season. A further education awaits as he joins up with Lionel Messi and Co once again in the Argentina camp for their World Cup qualifiers during the November international break.

His debut last month was a memorable one, laying on Messi’s hat-trick strike against Bolivia. He will hope to add to those 17 minutes when they face Paraguay and Peru.

Some time with the world champions may even provide the opportunity for a smile to return to his face.