Genoa revived their hopes of reaching the last 32 of the Europa League with a last-gasp 3-2 win over Lille at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

Rodrigo Palacio gave Genoa the lead in the 15th minute, and Hernan Crespo added a second just short of the hour mark.

Lille hit back with goals from Pierre Alain Frau in the 77th minute and an equaliser from Gervinho five minutes from time - but there was one further twist as Giuseppe Sculli grabbed a winner deep into stoppage time.

Franck Beria almost headed Lille in front in the ninth minute - and Robert Vittek was a constant handful for the Genoa defence who, in slippery conditions, were struggling to mark the Slovakian forward.

The home side took the lead against the run of play, Alberto Zapater lifting the ball over the top of the Lille defence for Palacio - who shook off his marker Emerson before taking aim.

Lille's experienced goalkeeper Mickael Landreau got a hand to the ball but not enough to keep it out.

Crespo got a lucky bounce five minutes before the break but placed his shot just wide of the far post .

Crespo had a good chance to extend Genoa's lead in the 50th minute when he was put through by Francesco Modesto but lost control of the ball with his first touch.

Another chance went begging for Genoa in the 56th minute when Crespo placed his shot wide from close range.

The Argentinian finally found the back of the net in the 58th minute, a goalmouth scramble this time ending favourably for the Genoa striker.

His first shot hit the post, but he managed to tuck the rebound in while still lying on the ground.

Lille reduced the arrears in the 77th minute through substitute Frau.

The ball came in from a left-wing corner, and Beria's flick header found Frau at the far post. His shot was almost stopped by Alessio Scarpi, but both goalkeeper and ball slipped behind the line.

Gervinho levelled with five minutes remaining after being left in acres of space to the left of Scarpi's goal, but it was a deflection off the foot of Marco Rossi which beat the Genoa goalkeeper.

But Sculli gave Genoa the win with practically the last touch of the ball.

Raffaele Palladino found his team-mate at the far post, and he controlled the ball before blasting it past Landreazu.

Teams:

Genoa Scarpi, Bocchetti, Biava, Moretti, Tomovic, Rossi,Zapater, Modesto (Papastathopoulos 78), Palladino,Crespo (Sculli 80), Palacio (Figueroa 83).

Subs Not Used: Russo, Esposito, Mesto, Milanetto.

Booked: Moretti, Zapater.

Goals: Palacio 14, Crespo 57, Sculli 90.

Lille Landreau, Vandam, Beria, Rami, Emerson, Dumont,Balmont (Cabaye 61), Obraniak, Toure (Frau 72),Aubameyang (Gervinho 61), Vittek.

Subs Not Used: Butelle, Salibur, Souare, Souquet.

Booked: Beria, Vandam.

Goals: Frau 76, Gervinho 84.

Att: 34,000

Ref: Hendrikus Nijhuis (Netherlands).