A clanger from Sergio Romero handed Eugenio Corini a debut victory and snapped Chievo's five game losing streak. Sampdoria thought they had done enough to earn a point after Enzo Maresca's free-kick cancelled out Cyril Thereau's opener, but the Flying Donkeys were not to be denied.
Chievo Verona vs. Sampdoria: Final score 2-1, goalkeeping gaffe gifts Corini a debut victory
Eugenio Corini starts his Chievo Verona reign with a victory, at the expense of red-faced Sampdoria.
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The 2-1 win, only Chievo’s second of the season, moves the club out of the bottom three. For Sampdoria, it’s their second loss in a row.
Corini handed Adrian Goian a surprise start, while the visitors had Nicola Pozzi, Juan Antonio, Andrea Poli and Eder on the treatment table and were missing club captain Daniele Gastaldello through suspension. Maresca and Maxi Lopez returned from their bans.
Clear-cut chances were few and far between. Chievo fashioned the first opportunity out of nothing after 12 minutes. The Samp defence failed to deal with a high ball, Thereau was given licence to run through, only to fire a weak effort at Romero’s legs.
This stirred the visitors slightly. Stefano Sorrentino gathered Maxi's left footed shot, before a Marcelo Estigarribia chip caught Sorrentino off his line, but clipped the bar and went over. Bostjan Cesar then failed to get his head on a dangerous cross. With Romero rooted to the spot, any touch would have put the ball into the net.
As the half wore on, David Di Michele found space on the edge of the box, but his shot didn't trouble Romero. At the other end, Pedro Obiang was allowed to run into the box, until Boukary Drame ran across to prevent a shot.
Chievo lost Gennaro Sardo just past the half-hour mark, after he came off worse from a mid-air collision with Maxi. The defender landed awkwardly on his left leg and was replaced by Nicolas Frey.
Five minutes before half time, Dario Dainelli flicked on a Chievo corner, but Simon Poulsen did just enough to ensure Cesar guided his header wide.
A smash and grab counter attack then gave Chievo the lead at the end of first half stoppage time.
Thereau was allowed to cut through the Samp defence once again. After playing a neat one-two with Luca Rigoni, the Frenchman stroked the ball past Romero, who committed to the ground far too early.
Ten minutes into the second half and some clever play from Thereau, Stoian and Drame saw the ball fall to Di Michele in the box, but play was called back for a disputable offside.
Sampdoria levelled just past the hour when Maresca curled a 25-yard free kick over the Chievo wall and past the outstretched hand of Sorrentino, beating the shot stopper at his far post. Rigoni was stood on the post, but didn’t react quick enough to help his team out. It was Maresca’s first goal for his new club and first in Serie A for seven years. Up until this point, the midfielder had been pretty wasteful from deadball positions.
Chievo tried to cautiously push for a winner. Bojan Jokic stung Romero’s gloves after Di Michele inadvertently went down and the ball fell into his path.
With three minutes to play, Chievo got their lucky break. Di Michele fired an innocuous long-range effort towards goal, which Romero somehow let slip through his fingers and into the net. Ciro Ferrara was furious on the touchline, as he felt play should have been pulled back with Obiang down injured. Alas it wasn't to be, as this was Chievo's day.
Chievo: Sorrentino; Sardo, (Frey 32) Dainelli, Cesar, Dramè; Guana, L Rigoni, Hetemaj; Stoian, (Jokic 62) Thereau; (Samassa 85) Di Michele
Sampdoria: Romero; Berardi, Rossini, Costa, Poulsen, (Soriano 66) Munari, Maresca, Obiang, (Icardi 89) Estigarribia, Maxi Lopez, Krsticic (Tissone 80)
Goals: Thereau 45’ (C) Maresca 61’ (S) Di Michele 87’ (C)
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