Sampdoria defeated Livorno 4-2 at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris on Sunday afternoon in Serie A.
Ibrahima Mbaye gave the Amaranto a shock lead in the first half by scoring two goals but Doria made a great comeback in the second half thanks to goals from Nenad Krsticic, a Federico Ceccherini own goal, Stefano Okaka and Manolo Gabbiadini.
The first 10 minutes were cagey but then both sides had a couple opportunities. Sampdoria tested Francesco Bardi thanks to efforts from Gabbiadini and Eder. Livorno had a couple of chances too, with Djamel Mesbah shooting wide and Paulinho hitting the crossbar.
The Amaranto took the lead on 19 minutes. After some good work from Ishak Belfodil on the left, he passed to Mesbah, who in turn took a shot. Angelo Da Costa saved Mesbah’s effort but Mbaye ran in to head in the rebound.
Bardi saved a Gabbiadini free-kick and then Da Costa saved a Paulinho effort. After 26 minutes, Livorno doubled their lead when Leandro Greco went on a run on the left and his low cross found Marco Benassi. The central midfielder back-heeled the ball to Mbaye, who slid in to score his team’s second goal.
Ceccherini’s header flashed wide after an Amaranto corner and before the half ended, Angelo Palombo tried his luck from distance but Bardi easily saved the Samp midfielder’s effort.
Krsticic came on at half-time and he pulled a goal back on 49 minutes. He made a run down the middle and passed to Roberto Soriano. The Italo-German’s left-foot drive was parried away by Bardi but Krsticic had continued his run and smacked home the rebound.
Sampdoria equalised after 52 minutes, when a cross from the right-wing was headed across the box by Mbaye and Ceccherini deflected the ball straight into his own net.
The Doriani nearly took the lead after Okaka flicked the ball for Soriano but the midfielder’s angled drive just went wide. Belfodil tried his luck from long range, only to blast his shot over the bar. Gabbiadini attempted a volley and hit the side-netting.
Doria finally took the lead after 68 minutes when Okaka tried his luck from about 25 metres and his shot took a deflection off Andrea Coda, flying past Bardi.
Okaka made a run from his own half, dribbled past five defenders and played a through-ball to Soriano, who was beaten by Bardi. Then Okaka created a chance for Gabbiadini, who forced a save out of the Livorno keeper.
The Okaka-Gabbiadini combination eventually worked dividends after 75 minutes. Okaka’s through-ball found Gabbiadini, who ran onto the ball and slotted it pass Bardi to make it 4-2.
The Amaranto searched for a consolation goal but Belfodil and Paulinho’s chances didn’t pose a serious threat.
Doria completed a great comeback to win 4-2 and it was Mihajlovic’s substitutes at half-time that made the difference.
