Quagliarella and Muriel lead stunning comeback as Samp sink Sassuolo

Sampdoria scored three times in the last ten minutes to battle back from 2-0 down to beat Sassuolo 3-2 at Marassi in an enthralling encounter on Sunday lunchtime.

Marco Giampaolo’s side dominated much of the first half, but were slaves to their own profligacy as chance after chance went begging. Luis Muriel, Fabio Quagliarella and Bruno Fernandes all had decent sights at goal in the opening exchanges, with Sassuolo standing firm in defence.

The best chance of the half fell to Portuguese schemer Bruno Fernandes: Quagliarella’s long-range effort was spilled by Andrea Consigli in the Sassuolo goal, but the Samp No.10 lashed the rebound wide from a wonderful position.

Neither side made any changes at the break as Sampdoria came out determined to make their supremacy pay. But there was a sucker punch on the horizon as Antonino Ragusa led a Sassuolo down the left flank, crossing in for Federico Ricci to guide it home for 1-0.

It was a bitter pill to swallow for Samp, who streamed forward in search of a quick equaliser, but as the game opened up so too did the Doria defence and it wasn’t long before Ragusa had made it 2-0 to the visitors.

Frustration reigned around Marassi, the fans dejected as the clock ticked down to defeat.

Sampdoria, however, had other ideas.

Hope was restored on 84 minutes as Quagliarella made it 2-1, coolly slotting home after his initial effort had come back off the post. And Samp were level barely two minutes later as Quagliarella turned provider by squaring in the box for Muriel to slot home for 2-2.

Sassuolo were hanging on now as Sampdoria pushed forward relentlessly, the Marassi faithful baying for a winner. With regulation time up, Muriel burst into the box and stabbed a pass to Patrik Schick, whose nifty footwork saw him upended just as he was about to pull the trigger – the referee pointed to the spot. Up stepped Muriel, who sent the keeper the wrong way to spark euphoria in the stands.

Sampdoria 3-2 Sassuolo (HT: 0-0)
Scorers: Ricci 63, Ragusa 74, Quagliarella 84, Muriel 86, Muriel pen. 90+1.

Sampdoria (4-3-1-2): Puggioni; Sala (Pereira 88), Silvestre, Skriniar, Regini; Barreto (Praet 70), Torreira, Linetty; Fernandes (Schick 78); Quagliarella, Muriel.
Subs not used: Tozzo, Dodo, Eramo, Alvarez, Pereira, Krajnc, Palombo, Cigarini, Djuricic, Budimir.
Coach: Marco Giampaolo.

Sassuolo (4-3-3): Consigli; Gazzola, Antei, Acerbi, Peluso; Mazzitelli, Missiroli (Magnanelli 61), Pellegrini; Ricci, Defrel (Matri 75), Ragusa (Adjapong 82).
Subs not used: Pomini, Pegolo, Iemmello, Matri, Marin, Pierini, Lirola, Terranova, Cannavaro, Dell’Orco.
Coach: Eusebio Di Francesco.

Referee: Doveri (Roma 1).
Assistants: Tonolini (Milan),  Alassio (Imperia).
Fourth official: Vuoto (Livorno).
Additional assistants: Damato (Barletta), Pasqua (Tivoli).

Yellow cards: Sala 17, Antei 21, Skriniar 29, Silvestre 52, Missiroli 53, Peluso 62, Torreira 76.

Added time: 1 + 4 minutes.