Sampdoria defeated Livorno 2-1 at the Stadio Armando Picchi on Sunday afternoon in Serie A action.
A first half penalty converted by Éder looked as if it was enough to hand the travelling Blucerchiati all three points until Luca Siligardi hammered home an injury time leveller for Livorno. However moments later Nicola Pozzi converted a stoppage time penalty to secure the away side their first victory of the season.
Despite Livorno seeing the lion share of possession in the games opening twenty minutes, it was the visitors who would take the lead after Lorenzo De Silvestri drew a penalty after a foul from Alfred Duncan who was cautioned for his clumsy challenge inside the area.
Francesco Bardi stood between Éder and his side falling behind but he could do nothing to prevent the spot kick as the 26-year-old sent him the wrong way rolling the ball into the right side of the goal.
It was a competitive first half in which the home side seemed dominant but could not find their breakthrough. Paulinho spurned the best chance for the Amaranto to draw level as he met an in-swinging free kick firmly with his head but saw his chance narrowly sail over the crossbar of Angelo Da Costa’s net.
Davide Nicola’s side created a flurry of chances as the ever hard-working Innocent Emeghara continued to plug away but an equaliser could not be found before the half was drawn to a close.
Neither side came out firing after the break but after managing to spring the offside trap of the Livorno defence, Éder really should have doubled his own personal tally and his sides lead. However he failed to hit the target with two good opportunities as the chances slipped through the fingers of the Blucerchiati.
Livorno had to wait until the 92nd minutes to seal a crucial and dramatic equaliser as they believed they had rescued a point and halted their run of three consecutive defeats. Luca Siligardi fired home from the edge of the area to the delight of the home crowd and level the score at 1-1.
The visitors were not content to see their first victory plucked from before their eyes with only minutes remaining as the intensity of the situation got to Livorno player Andrea Luci. He brought down Vasco Regini inside the area for Sampdoria’s second penalty of the game.
Nicola Pozzi turned to face Bardi, as Delio Rossi shielded his eyes in discomfort at the nail biting climax. Pozzi made no mistake from the spot firing his effort underneath the sprawling Bardi before running to celebrate with the away support.
Sampdoria picked up their first win of the season in the most enthralling and nerve-racking fashion and climbed out of the dreaded bottom three for the first time this season.
