Sampdoria vs. AC Milan: Final score 2-2, Samp held by 10-man Milan
AC Milan had to come from behind to salvage a point against Sampdoria on Saturday.
The game got off to a cagey start, but it only took some individual brilliance from Stephan El Shaarawy to give Milan the lead after 10 minutes. After a quick break down the left, the former Genoa man cut inside and curled the ball perfectly inside Sergio Romero's far post, ending a remarkably long goalless league run stretching back almost two years.
Samp saw plenty of the ball after falling behind, but struggled to convert their control of possession into any real goalscoring chances. That was until the game started to even out midway through the first half, when Éder was denied by an excellent diving stop from Diego López.
From then on, both sides managed to carve out opportunities, with Giacomo Bonaventura denied by Romero, before López made a fine save on a Manolo Gabbiadini free-kick. The all-important second goal was finally scored on the stroke of halftime, when Samp attacker Gabbiadini fizzed a cross into the penalty area for Stefano Okaka to prod home. After an even half, Milan could have few complaints.
The second half started with a bang, with Sampdoria taking the lead for the first time just six minutes after the restart. A corner was powerfully headed goalwards by Okaka, and his teammate Éder was on hand to tap home a rebound after an excellent initial save from López.
Samp looked comfortable with their advantage, and only some last-ditch Milan defending prevented the rossoneri from falling two behind. However, Milan had some big help from the referee with 25 minutes remaining, when he awarded a penalty from a handball by former rossoneri full-back Djamel Mesbah. Jéremy Ménez stepped up to convert from the spot, and the game was level once again.
As the match wore on, Milan looked increasingly dangerous, with their mobile attack causing problems as the Samp defence fatigued. Unfortunately for Filippo Inzaghi's side, though, they failed to convert their opportunities, and went down to 10 men when captain Daniele Bonera was sent off for a second bookable offence in stoppage time.
Samp's numerical superiority meant they were able to dominate again late on, and López was forced into a fine late save from Roberto Soriano as Milan hung on for a point.
Sampdoria: Romero; Mesbah, Gastaldello, Silvestre (Regini 83’), Silvestri; Duncan (Rizzo 67’), Obiang (Bergessio 90+1’), Soriano; Éder, Okaka, Gabbiadini.
Goals: Okaka (45+1’), Éder (51’).
AC Milan: López; Bonera, Rami, Mexès, De Sciglio; Bonaventura, De Jong, Essien; El Shaarawy, Ménez (Poli 87’), Honda (Torres 59’).
Goals: El Shaarawy (10’), Ménez (pen. 65’).
Red cards: Bonera (85’).
