Cesena and Sampdoria battled to a spirited 1-1 draw at the Stadio Dino Manuzzi in Serie A action on Sunday afternoon.
Former Sampdoria defender Stefano Lucchini opened the scoring for the home side in the second half before substitute Constantin Nica directed an Eder cross into his own goal to give both sides a share of the spoils.
The Cavallucci Marini had the first chance of the match in the 10th minute when Gregoire Defrel found space outside the area before sending his vicious left footed strike just wide of goal.
The Blucerchiati would respond in the 26th minute when Rafael Soriano, who recently made his debut for the Italian national team, found an unmarked Eder in the penalty area but the Brazilian could not direct his effort on goal.
The away side would close out the first half in attack, with Eder’s free kick in the 45th minute going just wide of goal before referee Andrea Gervasoni would send both sides down the tunnel for half time.
Samp would open the second half in attack and nearly took the lead through Stefano Okaka. The Italian got on the end of a Soriano cross, but his audacious back heel flick was somehow saved by Nicola Leali.
Okaka would turn provider in the 52nd minute when his cross was flicked on by Soriano to Eder. His first time effort on the volley smacked off the post, with Leali rooted to his spot.
The home side would open the scoring in the 60th minute when Franco Brienza’s free kick found Lucchini, whose first effort was parried by Sergio Romero before firing past the Argentine to make it 1-0.
However their lead would not last very long as Samp finally found the back of the net in the 77th minute. Eder’s cross in from the right side connected with the foot of newly brought on substitute Nica, who unfortunately directed the ball past Leali and into his own goal to level the score at 1-1.
Cascione nearly gave the home side the lead once again in the 79th minute but his free kick clipped the crossbar, while Okaka expertly turned and found space in the penalty area two minutes later before forcing a prodigious save out of Leali.
Samp would continue to press forward; first Pedro Obiang’s effort after a well worked play was deflected out for a corner before Nicola Sansone’s stinging drive would once again find woodwork to keep the score deadlocked.
Gonzalo Bergessio was next in line to be denied in the 86th minute when Okaka sent the Argentine in one-on-one with Leali, but he only managed to send his effort straight at the goalkeeper.
There was still time for one more chance as the home side appealed for a penalty as they believed the ball touched Matias Silvestre’s arm, but Gervasoni waved play on before bringing an end to the heart stopping second half.
