Samp held to 1-1 draw by Inter after Perisic cancels out Muriel opener

Walter Zenga’s Sampdoria secured a well-earned point against high flyers Inter at Marassi this afternoon, though after taking a second-half lead through Luis Muriel the Blucerchiati will be disappointed not to have held on for the win. The result means Samp preserve their unbeaten run at home this season.

It was a frenetic start to the match, with the Blucerchiati very much on the front foot. In the first half an hour, Handanovic was tested by Soriano, Zukanovic, Eder and Correa, but the Inter goalie showed good reflexes on each occasion.

Inter had a sighter through Guarin, who ballooned an acrobatic effort over the bar, but it was a mere blip in the Doria dominance as first Eder and then Correa came within inches of giving their side the lead. Somehow, the scores were still level at 0-0 come the referee’s half-time whistle.

There was more Sampdoria pressure straight from the restart. Muriel came close from Mesbah’s cross, before finally the Nerazzurri resistance was broken as the Colombian striker slid in to stab home Pereira’s centre and send the Curva Sud into raptures.

Zenga sent Palombo into the fray in place of the injured Correa, and while Mancini also made changes it was Muriel who nearly extended the Doria advantage on 72 minutes. Inter were never out of it, however, and Samp were made to pay for their profligacy 15 minutes from the end as Perisic gobbled up a loose ball to net the equaliser from close range.

Sampdoria 1-1 Internazionale (HT: 0-0)
Scorers: Muriel 51, Perisic 76.

Sampdoria (4-3-3): Viviano; Pereira, Moisander, Zukanovic, Mesbah; Soriano, Fernando (Ivan 87), Barreto; Eder, Muriel (Cassano 76), Correa (Palombo 56).
Subs not used: Puggioni, Brignoli, Rodriguez, Regini, Carbonero, Rocca.
Coach: Walter Zenga.

Internazionale (4-3-1-2): Handanovic; Santon (Ljajic 89), Medel, Murillo, Telles; Kondogbia (Biabiany 63), F. Melo, Guarín; Perisic; Palacio (Manaj 71), Icardi.
Subs not used: Carrizo, Berni, J. Jesus, Montoya, Ranocchia, Gnoukouri, D’Ambrosio, Nagatomo, Brozovic.
Coach: Roberto Mancini.

Referee: Rocchi.
Assistants: Barbirati, Marzaloni.
Fourth official: Preti.
Additional assistants: Orsato, Candussio.

Booked: Barreto 64, Perisic 68, Medel 82, Fernando 80, Felipe Melo 80, Guarin 90+3.
Added time: 2 + 4 mins.