Stunning Bruno Fernandes strike secures last-gasp point for Samp

There were mere seconds left on the clock when Bruno Fernandes dispatched a perfect volley into the back of the Palermo net, snatching a point from the jaws of defeat for Sampdoria.

It turned out to be the last kick of a 1-1 draw at Marassi on Sunday, the result bringing Doria’s run of four straight defeats to a timely end.

Yet when the euphoria died down the overriding feeling around the stadium was that Sampdoria had once again made their lives unnecessarily difficult.

Samp started well enough, creating a series of decent chances during the first 45 minutes. Palermo offered precious little down the other end, with Marco Giampaolo’s side looking assured in possession and confident in defence.

The Blucerchiati raced out of the blocks again after half time, determined to make their superiority count, and it seemed a matter time before the deadlock was broken.

A goal duly arrived 15 minutes into the second half, but to the dismay of the Marassi faithful it was Emiliano Viviano’s net bulging and the men in pink engaged in raucous celebrations.

From his position on the left, Haitam Aleesami played a square ball across goal for Ilija Nestorovski, who calmly slotted past the Samp keeper to give the Sicilians a 1-0 lead.

Giampaolo reacted by making a series of substitutions, with Fabio Quagliarella, Karol Linetty and later Ricky Alvarez coming off to be replaced by the fresh legs of Patrik Schick, Bruno Fernandes and Dennis Praet.

Yet Samp struggled to create any real clear-cut chances as Palermo reverted to type, content to hang back and soak up the Doria pressure.

A fifth consecutive defeat was looming large for the Blucerchiati when Bruno Fernandes found himself under a dropping ball, a crowd of pink shirts cluttering the path to goal. The Portuguese’s right boot connected sweetly and Josip Posavec – the thwarter of several Samp chances after the course of the afternoon – could only watch as the ball flew past him and hit the back of the net.

The final whistle blew with Samp still mired in celebration, a vital point secured.

Sampdoria 1-1 Palermo (HT: 0-0)
Scorers: Nestorovski 60, Bruno Fernandes 90+5.

Sampdoria (4-1-2-1-2): Viviano; J. Sala, Silvestre, Skriniar, Regini, Torreira, Barreto, Linetty (Bruno Fernandes 64), Alvarez (Praet 81), Muriel, Quagliarella (Schick 60).
Subs not used: Tozzo, Dodo, Palombo, Puggioni, Budimir, Krajnc, Pedro Pereira, Eramo, Cigarini.
Coach: Marco Giampaolo.

Palermo (3-4-2-1): Posavec, Cionek, Goldaniga, Gonzalez, Rispoli, Gazzi, Bruno Henrique (Jajalo 70), Aleesami, Diamanti (Bouy 88), Hiljemark (Chochev 56), I. Nestorovski.
Subs not used: Balogh, Morganella, Lo Faso, Andjelkovic, Marson, Sallai, Pezzella, Vitiello, Fulignati.
Coach: Roberto De Zerbi

Yellow cards: Alvarez 21, Hiljemark 28, Gazzi 46, 90+2, Gonzalez 52, Nestorovski 60, Viviano 60, Diamanti 73.
Red cards: Gazzi 90+2.

Added time: 1 + 4 minutes.