Milan: Roberto Soriano struck twice as visitors Sampdoria edged Genoa 3-2 in a thrilling city derby on Tuesday that was delayed twice due to fans throwing smoke flares.
Genoa had won only one of the previous six editions of the 'Derby della Lanterna' and Gian Piero Gasperini's men were again left second best at the clubs' shared Luigi Ferraris ground as Sampdoria held on amid a thrilling finale.
Sampdoria only claimed their first win under new coach Vincenzo Montella prior to the festive break, but the visitors fully deserved their 2-0 lead at the interval thanks to Soriano's opener and Eder's 39th-minute strike.
Soriano struck again just after the break, but Sampdoria were lucky to claim all three points after Leonardo Pavoletti twice reduced arrears late in the second half to claim his maiden brace in Serie A and inspire the hosts to a thrilling finish.
The win moved Sampdoria up to 11th place ahead of the remaining midweek fixtures on Wednesday, while Genoa remain in 17th just one point above the drop zone.
A Pavoletti header early on glanced wide from a corner, although minutes later Genoa 'keeper Mattia Perin parried Ervin Zukanovic's deflected free kick over the bar.
Antonio Cassano, making a rare start for the visitors, no longer has the pace but the veteran striker played a role in all three of Sampdoria's goals.
When the former Italy international's through ball for Soriano was deflected into the forward's path, he smashed a low volley past Perin for an 18th-minute lead.
Cassano was involved again when Carlos Carbonero won back possession in his own half to power down the right. Although Carbonero's cutback became a poor clearance, it fell to Eder, who sidestepped his marker to slot the ball inside Perin's near post.
Genoa's woes deepened only four minutes after the restart, Cassano providing an assist for Soriano that the forward swept easily into the net to claim his second, prompting the ire of the home fans.
The fixture had already been delayed by several minutes before kick-off because of the poor visibility caused by smoke flares, and Soriano's second prompted Genoa fans to throw several flares on to the pitch, prompting the intervention of firemen.
Yet the incident appeared to fire up the hosts, who launched a rousing comeback only to be denied a share of the points at the death.
Pavoletti reduced arrears in the 69th minute when he rose above the Samp defence to fire a header into the net, and moments later Darko Lazovic saw his low drive inch just wide of the post.
Pavoletti grabbed his second nine minutes from time when he headed into an empty net from a yard out after Emiliano Viviano mistimed his attempted interception after rushing out of his goal.
Genoa spurned several chances for a late leveller, Viviano blocking Serge Gakpe and Pavoletti before palming the ball off the line when a shot ricocheted dangerously in front of goal.
AFP
