Battling Spezia defeat struggling Sampdoria
The first chance of the game came for Spezia, Arkadiusz Reca crossed the ball in and Emmanuel Quartsin Gyasi rose highest but the Ghanaian could only send his header over the crossbar. It was Sampdoria who took the lead as they scored with their first attempt, Abdelhamid Sabiri hit a spectacular shot into the top right corner of the goal from 35 yards out. Spezia were level just a minute later, as Jeison Murillo fumbled the ball into his own goal whilst trying to intercept an offensive pass across the face of goal. Sampdoria were keen to restore their lead and had an opportunity to do so, Tomás Rincón found himself free on the edge of the box but he scuffed his shot into the arms of Bartłomiej Drągowski.
Spezia had the first opportunity after the restart, Gyasi charged down the left before putting a dangerous ball across the face of goal, but Emil Holm was unable to make contact at the far post. Sampdoria went close shortly after, a dangerous counterattack saw Sabiri let fly from the edge of the area once again but he was denied by a smart save down low by Drągowski. The Eagles went close once again, the ball finding its way to M’bala Nzola on the edge of the area before he curled an effort goalwards, but it was easily handled by Audero. Spezia got the goal they deserved when Nzola swept home Holm’s cross with a lovely volley from the edge of the six-yard box. Sabiri went close for the visitors once again as he latched onto a loose ball but his shot was fired straight at Drągowski.
Spezia held on to secure all three points and propel themselves up to 10th in the table, Sampdoria however, stay in 19th having now won only one of their last 14 Serie A away fixtures (D2, L11).
Flashscore Man of the Match: M’bala Nzola (Spezia)