Kownacki and Quagliarella strike late as San Siro comeback falls short
It was very nearly the perfect comeback but Samp ultimately left San Siro with nothing to show for a dogged second-half display. At least we depart with our heads held high, in the knowledge that we matched the league leaders for a significant portion of the game.
Not that it was all good – far from it in the opening period. Samp started brightly enough but it wasn’t long before Inter began running riot. Milan Skriniar, having switched clubs just a few months ago, chose today of all days to open his San Siro account as he put the hosts in front with a poked finished on 18 minutes.
Ivan Perisic almost made it 2-0 minutes later when he seized the chance to shoot from 40 yards with Christian Puggioni off his line, his effort thankfully coming back off the post.
Shortly afterwards the Nerazzurri did get a second and it was another ex on the score sheet, Mauro Icardi volleying home at the far post.
The Argentine was denied a second five minutes before the break, his bullet header ricocheting back off the upright.
Half time came and the Blucerchiati trudged inside to rethink their battle plan.
Gianluca Caprari replaced Gaston Ramirez during the interval and within minutes of the restart Quagliarella had the chance to pull one back but his free kick finished wide.
A cold shower was coming though as Perisic centred for Icardi and the striker notched his second of the game.
3-0 down at the Meazza left Samp with a mountain to climb, but climb they did.
Giampaolo threw on Dawid Kownacki to aid the cause and, after Perisic had rattled the bar, the young Pole did just that with a neat finish from Quagliarella’s lobbed pass.
The captain took it upon himself to head in a second for Samp with five minutes left to play and suddenly the game was back on.
Puggioni denied Icardi a hat-trick as the Blucerchiati threw the kitchen sink at Inter in their attempt to muster an equaliser. Caprari had the chance to snatch an injury-time leveller but it wasn’t to be.
Internazionale 3-2 Sampdoria (HT 2-0)
Scorers : Skriniar 18, Icardi 32, 54, Kownacki 64, Quagliarella 85
Internazionale (4-2-3-1): Handanovic; D’Ambrosio, Skriniar, Miranda, Nagatomo (Santon 84); Vecino (J. Mario 74), Gagliardini; Candreva, B. Valero, Perisic; Icardi (Eder 87).
Subs not used: Padelli, Berni, Cancelo, Ranocchia, Karamoh, Dalbert, Pinamonti.
Coach: Spalletti.
Sampdoria (4-3-1-2): Puggioni; Bereszynski, Silvestre, Ferrari, Murru; Barreto (Linetty 65), Torreira, Praet; Ramírez (Caprari 46); Quagliarella, Zapata (Kownacki 57).
Subs not used: Krapikas, Tozzo, Sala, Alvarez, Strinic, Regini, Verre, Capezzi.
Coach: Giampaolo.
Referee: Guida (Torre Annunziata).
Assistants: Tasso (La Spezia), Passeri (Gubbio).
Fourth officiale: Calvarese (Teramo).
VAR: Fabbri (Ravenna).
VAR assistant: Nasca (Bari).
Booked: Murru 61, Gagliardini 88, Quagliarella 85, Eder 90.
Added time: 1+3 minutes.
