Malaga win Trofeo Costa Del Sol on penalties after 0-0 stalemate
In the end the 32nd Trofeo Costa Del Sol came down to penalties and it was Malaga who were celebrating, but at least Samp leave La Rosaleda in the knowledge that they can mix it with top-quality sides such as the Andalusians, having held the hosts to a 0-0 draw in regular time.
The first half was an evenly matched affair with clear-cut chances few and far between for both sides, Samp’s attacking triumvirate of Schick, Muriel and Quagliarella starved of any decent ammunition.
The second period continued in a low-key fashion and Marco Giampaolo rang the first changes on the hour mark with Eramo and Budimier coming on for Linetty and Muriel, while Palombo and Pavlovic replaced Torreira and De Silvestri midway through the half.
With 15 minutes to play Viviano pulled off a wonder save to deny Mikel’s close-range header before Quagliarella finally warmed Kameni’s gloves with a shot from range – the first real threat for Samp apart from a scuffed shot from Barreto.
Djuricic and Ivan came on for Schick and Barreto in the final minutes but it remained goalless, which meant a penalty shootout to determine the winners.
Santos drew first blood from the spot and Kameni saved Quagliarella’s penalty before Viviano matched his opposite number by denying Juanpi and Budimir levelled the scores at 1-1.
Charles and Djuricic made no mistake from 12 yards to maintain parity but Mikel converted and Kameni saved Palombo’s effort to hand the hosts the advantage again at 3-2. Kuzmanovic then fired home the winning penalty to ensure Malaga keep the trophy in Andalusia this year.
Malaga 0
Sampdoria 0
Malaga (4-2-3-1): Kameni; Rosales, Llorente (Mike 46), Kone (Weligton 78), F. Ricca; Camacho (Juankar 78), Recio (Kuzmanovic 54); Keko (Juanpi 62), Pablo (Charles 62), Chory (Jony 62); Sandro (M. Santos 78).
Subs not used: Aaron, Duda, Nesyri, Ontiveros.
Coach: Juande Ramos.
Sampdoria (4-3-1-2): Viviano; De Silvestri (Pavlovic 68), Silvestre, Regini, Sala; Barreto (Ivan 86), Torreira (Palombo 68), Linetty (Eramo 61); Schick (Djuricic 80); Muriel (Budimir 61), Quagliarella.
Subs not used: Puggioni, Tozzo, Castan, Pereira, Skriniar.
Coach: Marco Giampaolo.
Referee: Melero Lopez (ESP).
Assistants: Torre Cimiano (ESP) and Martinez Serrato (ESP).
Fourth official: Chavet García (ESP).
Booked: Quagliarella 23, Recio 49.
Added time: 0+0 minutes.