Zukanovic snatches a point as Samp get off the mark under Montella

Sampdoria secured a last-gasp 1-1 draw with Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on Monday night.

A cagey match sprang into life after 78 minutes as Alessandro Matri rose highest to head Lazio into the lead, but Ervin Zukanovic’s last-minute free-kick salvaged a vital point for Vincenzo Montella’s side.

The history books pointed to a tough night for the Blucerchiati – Samp hadn’t claimed a single point away at Lazio in five years and were without a win in ten. There were problems for Montella ahead of the game too, as Mesbah, Silvestre and Eder were all ruled out due to fitness issues.

Samp began the match with a 4-5-1 formation designed to frustrate Lazio, and so it proved in a first half devoid of much in the way of excitement. The only spark from a Doria perspective was a lovely flowing move down the right, though Barreto’s shot bobbled harmlessly wide when it looked easier to score.

The second half began in much the same vein, despite the introduction of Felipe Anderson in the Lazio ranks. Matri came on 20 minutes later, and it proved to be a good move from Stefano Pioli as the journeyman Italian headed his side into the lead 12 minutes from time.

It was a cruel blow for Samp, who had worked hard throughout, and a moment’s joy for Lazio, to the extent that Federico Marchetti managed to injure himself in the celebrations. On came Etrit Berisha, but it was to be a night to forget for the Albanian as he came haring out of his box only to give away a free-kick in a dangerous position deep into stoppage time. Zukanovic took aim and – thanks to an unfortunate deflection from Felipe Anderson – sparked elated scenes in the Blucerchiati dug-out.

Lazio 1-1 Sampdoria (HT: 0-0)
Goalscorers: Matri 78, Zukanovic 90+3.

Lazio (4-3-1-2): Marchetti (Berisha 82); Konko, Hoedt, Gentiletti, Radu; Cataldi (F. Anderson HT), Biglia, Parolo; Candreva; Djordjevic, Klose (Matri 66).
Subs not used: Guerrieri, Gabarron, Braafheid, Mauri, Morrison, Milinkovic, Onazi, Prce, Oikonomidis.
Coach: Stefano Pioli.

Sampdoria (4-5-1): Viviano; De Silvestri, Moisander, Zukanovic, Regini; Christodoulopoulos (Bonazzoli 84), Soriano, Fernando, Barreto (Ivan 66), Carbonero; Cassano (Muriel 71).
Subs not used: Puggioni, Cassani, Coda, Rodriguez, Correa, Pereira, Palombo, Rocca.
Coach: Vincenzo Montella.

Referee: Calvarese (Teramo).
Assistants: La Rocca (Ercolano), Posado (Bari).
Fourth official: Carbone (Naples).
Additional assistants: Irrati (Pistoia), Candussio (Cervignano).

Bookings: Zukanovic 24, Gentiletti 30, Soriano 61, Cassano 68, Carbonero 76, Berisha 90+2.
Added time: 0 + 4.