A first half to forget: Samp’s European dream disappears with defeat to Lazio

Sampdoria’s already slim chances of European qualification were snuffed out this afternoon with a 2-1 home defeat to Lazio.

The match got off to the worst of starts for Marco Giampaolo’s players, when in the third minute a poor clearance by Omar Colley fell into Felipe Caicedo’s path, with the Brazilian immediately finding the net and putting the visitors into an early lead.

The situation became even more dire 15 minutes later, when Caicedo was the first to reach Romulo’s cross and nodded home for his and Lazio’s second.

To cap off an awful first half, Gaston Ramirez was sent for an early shower on the stroke of half-time after picking up his second yellow card for a push on Lucas Leiva.

Left with a mountain to climb in the second half, the Blucerchiati came out to salvage some pride and maybe even some points.

Certainly there was more heart and purpose to Samp’s play and their efforts were rewarded in the 57th minute when Serie A topscorer Fabio Quagliarella reduced the deficit by half. After Albin Ekdal’s ball forward was headed upwards by a Lazio defender, Fabio watched it carefully onto his foot, took a single touch and scored.

Emboldened by the goal, Sampdoria upped their efforts in search of an unlikely equaliser. Nicola Murru was unlucky in the 61st minute to see his shot cannon off the upright, onto Thomas Strakosha’s back in goal and behind for a corner.

However, the chance of the game occurred 15 minutes from time, when Gregoire Defrel found himself a couple of yards out but was somehow unable to turn Jakub Jankto’s cross into the net.

The feeling on full-time was naturally one of disappointment, but the team should take some heart from the way they rallied in the second half with only ten men.

Sampdoria 1-2 Lazio (HT: 0-2)

Scorers: Caicedo 3, 20, Quagliarella 11

Sampdoria (4-3-1-2): Audero; Sala (Gabbiadini, 83), Ferrari, Colley (Tonelli, 16), Murru; Praet, Ekdal, Linetty (Jankto, 45); Ramírez; Defrel, Quagliarella.
Subs not used: Rafael, Belec, Vieira, Saponara, Barreto, Caprari, Sau, Tavares, Bereszynski.
Coach: Giampaolo.

Lazio (3-5-1-1): Strakosha; Wallace, Acerbi, Bastos; Romulo (Marusic, 68), Parolo, Leiva, Cataldi (Badelj, 78), Lulic; Correa; Caicedo (Immobile, 64).
Subs not used: Guerrieri, Proto, L. Filipe, Patric, P. Neto, Armini, J. Bruno, Zitelli.
Coach: Inzaghi.

Referee: Maresca.
Assistants: Di Liberatore, Tonolini.
Fourth official: Aureliano.
VAR: Calvarese.
VAR Assistant: Tegoni.

Yellow cards: Ferrari 22, Ramirez 23, Acerbi 32, Tonelli 74, Wallace 76, Murru 90, Sala 90+2, Lulic 90+2.

Red card: Ramirez 90 (second bookable offence)

Additional time: 2+4 minutes.