Sampdoria defeated Genoa 3-2 in the Derby della Lanterna at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris on Tuesday night.
Roberto Soriano opened the scoring for the visitors in the 18th minute before Eder doubled Sampdoria’s lead with a stunning finish in the 39th minute. Soriano sealed the win in the 49th minute after a lightning counter-attack.
Leonardo Pavoletti pulled a goal back 20 minutes later from a corner kick and scored his second of the match in the 81st minute, the 27-year-old’s efforts went unrewarded as Vincenzo Montella’s men held on for the victory.
After a short delay due to some flares on the pitch, Genoa created the game’s first chance when a corner was flung in from Darko Lazovic, which Pavoletti attacked but he sliced his header narrowly wide of the post.
Though the Rossoblu dominated the early stages, Il Doria took the lead. Antonio Cassano hooked a pass forward which Nicolas Burdisso failed to clear, lifting the ball into the air for the onrushing Roberto Soriano to fire home.
The Grifone seemed stifled after conceding, however they did finally concoct a chance in the 34th minute. Following a nice piece of play, the ball was played into Diego Laxalt in the penalty box, but his shot was saved easily.
However, minutes later Sampdoria doubled their lead. A nice one-two with Cassano played in Carlos Carbonero, who broke into the penalty area before sliding a pass towards Edgar Barretto, however Burdisso blocked his effort.
Moments later Genoa failed to clear and the ball came to Eder on the edge of the box. Calm as a gunslinger, he dispatched his shot expertly beyond a flat-footed Mattia Perin.
The second half continued in a similar fashion as Soriano sealed the win for Sampdoria.
After a swift counter-attack Cassano received the ball outside the box before slipping a cheeky pass through Cristian Ansaldi’s legs, which an athletic Soriano drove into the net.
Genoa were as blunt as a hammer in their response, but they were able to pull a goal back from a corner. Pavoletti rose high to produce a towering header to give the Grifone fans hope.
The game’s momentum suddenly swung as seconds later Lazovic missed an excellent chance, sliding his shot narrowly past the post when one-on-one with Emiliano Viviano.
Pavoletti was a man possessed as he brought Genoa back into the match. Tomas Rincon drove forward and slipped in the Italian who clipped the ball over Viviano before he simply headed into an open net.
Viviano then made an excellent save as a Suso shot deflected off a Sampdoria defender and almost into his own net.
However, La Samp were able to see out the match a result which moves them into 10th place and keeps Genoa just outside the relegation zone.
Source: forzaitalianfootball.com