Schick stunner earns point at Torino
A brilliantly taken goal from Patrick Schick wasn’t enough for Samp to claim victory at Torino as Juan Manuel Iturbe’s late equaliser meant Marco Giampaolo’s men had to settle for a creditable draw on Saturday night.
Torino started off brightly and Adem Ljajic shaved the outside of the post with a low effort within the first five minutes, but it was Doria who drew first blood 12 minutes in.
Karol Linetty wove his way into the box and nudged the ball to Schick just as he was brought down by Carlao. The ref had no time to blow for a penalty because the Czech star immediately curled a magnificent first-time finish past Joe Hart into the top corner.
It was the 21-year-old’s 11th Serie A goal of the season and his 13th in all competitions.
Sinisa Mihajlovic’s men looked to respond quickly but Ljajic (14) and Iago Falque (18) both blazed over from decent shooting positions.
A far better chance was offered to Bruno Fernandes down the other end shortly afterwards, when Fabio Quagliarella played him in clean through on goal. The Portuguese raced towards Hart but sadly fired his effort straight at the keeper.
Christian Puggioni was called into action to beat away another effort from Falque before further chances for an equaliser were squandered by Lucas Boye (35) and Falque (45+1) as Samp took a 1-0 lead in at the break.
Marco Giampaolo considered replacing Schick during the interval as the striker was struggling with a shoulder injury picked up in the first half. The youngster started the second period but asked to come off almost immediately, with Ante Budimir coming on to replace him.
Minutes later Fabio Quagliarella attempted an audacious header which Hart was forced to tip over the bar.
Dennis Praet then gave the Englishman a scare before Boye did likewise to Puggioni down the other end. The Samp goalie then did well to dart off his line and cut out a dangerous cross by Falque intended for Andrea Belotti, who had thus far been kept quiet by the Blucerchiati rearguard.
Torino continued to create openings but struggled to get their efforts on target, as Boye, again, and Belotti from a corner missed further chances before the hour mark.
Giampaolo replaced Bruno Fernandes with Ricky Alvarez and the Argentine wasted no time in putting himself about as he jigged between two Torino shirts and put in a low delivery for Budimir, which the Croat lifted over.
Belotti, the league’s joint top scorer, had the chance to add to his tally in the 71st minute as a well-worked training ground move saw him played into space for the volley, but Puggioni was well placed to gather the Italian’s shot on the swivel.
Mihajlovic threw on Juan Manuel Iturbe (for Falque) and Maxi Lopez (for Acquah) in an attempt to claw back an equaliser and it was the Paraguayan who got one just minutes after making his entrance.
Vasco Regini was unable to clear a loose ball and the former Roma man pounced, lashing past Puggioni to make it 1-1.
It was a shame for Samp having held the lead for so long but a nonetheless spirited display that bodes well for the season finale.
Torino 1-1 Sampdoria (HT 0-1)
Scorers: Schick 12; Iturbe 79.
Torino (4-3-3): Hart; Zappacosta, Rossettini, Carlao, Avelar; Acquah (M. Lopez 78), Baselli (Valdifiori 87); Falque (Iturbe 73), Ljajic, Boye; Belotti.
Subs not used: Padelli, Cucchietti, Molinaro, Castan, Gustafson, Obi, Barreca, Moretti, Lukic.
Coach: Sinisa Mihajlovic.
Sampdoria (4-3-1-2): Puggioni; Bereszynski, Silvestre, Skriniar, Regini; Praet, Torreira, Linetty; Fernandes (Alvarez 61); Schick (Budimir 47), Quagliarella (Djuricic 84).
Subs not used: Krapikas, Falcone, Dodo, Balde, Pavlovic, Cigarini, Tessiore, Tomic.
Coach: Marco Giampaolo.
Referee: Massa.
Assistants: Ranghetti and Robilotta.
Fourth official: Liberti.
Additional assistants: Calvarese and Di Paolo.
Booked: Avelar 36, Praet 77, Regini 80.
Added time: 2+5 minutes.
Attendance: 11,468 season tickets (€137,471 euro), 5,881 match tickets (€156,642).
