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Sampdoria 2-1 Lazio: Blucerchiati Outsmart Fearful Aquile
The Doriani overturned an early deficit to seal a well needed three points on their march towards Europe…
| Bet: | Returns: | Palermo £23.75 | Draw £31.00 | Lazio £28.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Palermo £25.50 | Draw £31.00 | Lazio £28.80 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Palermo £25.00 | Draw £31.00 | Lazio £27.50 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Palermo £24.00 | Draw £32.00 | Lazio £30.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Palermo £24.00 | Draw £31.00 | Lazio £27.50 |
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Mar 7, 2010 3:45:00 PM
By Stefano Federici
Sampdoria welcomed back Antonio Cassano to the squad as they hosted a struggling Lazio outfit to the Luigi Ferraris.
After coming racing out the blocks, the Biancocelesti took and early lead when Sergio Floccari nestled the ball home following an inch perfect cross from Mauro Zarate.
Shortly before the half hour mark however, the Doriani levelled the scoring when Stefano Guberti fired a bullet into the top corner from the edge of the box. Giampaolo Pazzini then gifted Sampdoria the lead ten minutes before the break, as he slotted home within the box to punish some slack marking by the Aquile defence.
After the break the visitors looked to bounce back but were reduced to ten men when Zarate was given an early bath following heavy protests in the wake of an unassigned free kick. Despite going close at the death there was no way back for the Biancocelesti, who continue to struggle at the wrong end of the standings.
The game started brightly with Lazio immediately imposing themselves as the pushed into the Sampdoria half winning two early corners to put Marco Storari’s goal under some early pressure.
The visitors had the bit between their teeth and Tommaso Rocchi was given a golden chance to open the scoring when Zarate set him through with a generous pass on the edge of the box. With the whole target to aim at the Lazio captain attempted a low drive towards the near post, but it proved to be the wrong choice as Storari blocked with ease.
Just two minutes later ‘El Pibe De Haedo once again turned provider as his pinpoint cross found Floccari inside the box. This time however the Argentine’s other strike partner wasn’t giving anything away, and he coolly nudged the ball past the keeper to put the Biancocelesti in front.
Edy Reja wasn’t willing to give an inch despite his side’s early lead, and the Aquile tactician urged his side to keep up the heat in search of a second. The home side seemed a little lost for sorts as they struggled to maintain possession, but the Doriani still looked threatening in and around the visitor’s box.
On 28 minutes Sampdoria levelled the scoring when Guberti fired home Angelo Palombo’s squared free kick from 20 yards. The former Roma man picked his spot wonderfully, and Muslera had no chance as the ball flew past him and into the top corner.
Shortly after the Blucerchiati took the lead, when Pazzini slotted home from close range following Semioli’s delicate touch. The move cut the Aquile defence and Reja’s side looked bewildered after having started in such positive fashion.
As the side’s neared the hour mark Sampdoria once again found their groove and they began to attack the Lazio box with certain regularity. The visitors were starting to become stretched and the Blucerchiati looked likely to score.
On 61 minutes Stefano Lucchini missed from three yards when a Palombo corner slipped through the box to find him unmarked at the back-post. Despite having an open goal to aim for, the stopper incredibly sprayed wide, letting the Aquile defence off for yet another howler at the back.
Shortly after, coach Reja was sent to the stands for the second time in seven days when he took his protests too far following some poor decision making by referee Brighi. The home crowd appeared to be uninterested by the tactician’s dismissal however as seconds later Antonio Cassano made his entry from the bench to a rapturous applause from the Doria faithful.
The game took a turn for the worse for Lazio on 75 minutes when Zarate was shown red following heavy protests towards the referee. Despite the fact the Argentine had been downed by Palombo, the match official appeared unmoved as he stuck to his decision to allow play to continue. What followed was a wonderful display of sportsmanship from Cassano, who sympathetically ushered off the outraged no.10, before he did any further damage.
With the clock ticking down there was no way back for the Biancocelesti who continue to hang perilously close to the danger zone. Sampdoria sealed a precious three points keeping their chase for Europe well within their grasp.
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10:45 PM GMT
Urby Emanuelson has also spoken, revealing that he thinks Milan can win the Champions League based on tonight's performance:
“We played wonderfully tonight, and Ibra was amazing. Everyone talks about Barcelona and Madrid, but if we always play like tonight we could win this competition.
“You have to consider that we still have a lot of injuries. Look what Boateng did after just coming back – that speaks volumes.
“When everyone is available for selection, I'm sure we can win the Champions League.”
“We played wonderfully tonight, and Ibra was amazing. Everyone talks about Barcelona and Madrid, but if we always play like tonight we could win this competition.
“You have to consider that we still have a lot of injuries. Look what Boateng did after just coming back – that speaks volumes.
“When everyone is available for selection, I'm sure we can win the Champions League.”
10:38 PM GMT
Milan owner and former Italy prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has this to say:
“I said to Ibrahimovic not to use his hands (in reference to slapping a Napoli player at the weekend) and only his feet – he did that tonight.
“He reminded me of Van Basten, whom I am very happy for with his new job at Heerenveen.
“As for the future, we already have a great coach in Allegri and we're very happy with him. I speak to him and give him suggestions as I did with all my previous coaches.
“Champions League or Scudetto? We will try to win everything, and I think we can do just that. We had a lot of injuries, but we have a big squad, so we should be able to compete on all fronts.”
“I said to Ibrahimovic not to use his hands (in reference to slapping a Napoli player at the weekend) and only his feet – he did that tonight.
“He reminded me of Van Basten, whom I am very happy for with his new job at Heerenveen.
“As for the future, we already have a great coach in Allegri and we're very happy with him. I speak to him and give him suggestions as I did with all my previous coaches.
“Champions League or Scudetto? We will try to win everything, and I think we can do just that. We had a lot of injuries, but we have a big squad, so we should be able to compete on all fronts.”
10:33 PM GMT
And now we have some reaction from San Siro, courtesy of our man in the field Sergio Stanco...
10:29 PM GMT
Robert Zeliang has this to say of Arsene Wenger: "Wrong tactics, fool. Arsenal have dug their own graves.”
Meanwhile, Tonde Chitonho has asked Thierry Henry to take Arsene Wenger back to the US with him!
And on the subject of Henry, Rizky Ferdiansyah humorously added: “King Henry couldn't beat the Prince Boateng!”
Meanwhile, Tonde Chitonho has asked Thierry Henry to take Arsene Wenger back to the US with him!
And on the subject of Henry, Rizky Ferdiansyah humorously added: “King Henry couldn't beat the Prince Boateng!”
10:19 PM GMT
After the match, I took to Facebook and Twitter again to get some fan reaction. Lets take a look at what our readers have to say:
Joel Peeperkoorn feels that Arsenal should rest their big guns in the second leg, saying: “There's no way we can beat Milan by five goals."
Jez Cook, however, takes a different perspective, singing himself back to positivity: “FIVE FOUR we're gunna win five four we're gunna win five four we're gunna win five four ....FIVE FOUR we're gunna win five four we're gunna win five four we're gunna win five four ...FIVE FOUR - just keep repeating it.”
Well, you have to admire his fighting spirit...
Joel Peeperkoorn feels that Arsenal should rest their big guns in the second leg, saying: “There's no way we can beat Milan by five goals."
Jez Cook, however, takes a different perspective, singing himself back to positivity: “FIVE FOUR we're gunna win five four we're gunna win five four we're gunna win five four ....FIVE FOUR we're gunna win five four we're gunna win five four we're gunna win five four ...FIVE FOUR - just keep repeating it.”
Well, you have to admire his fighting spirit...
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