Decent Samp, clinical Milan. The Rossoneri win Coppa tie thanks to Niang and Bacca

Pity, we deserved more. Despite a good team performance – undoubtedly the best display of Vincenzo Montella’s reign – Sampdoria bow out of the Coppa Italia. Former coach Sinisa Mihajlovic and his AC Milan side prevailed in the knockout game at the Ferraris on Thursday night, thanks to goals from Niang and Bacca.

The fans behind the goal were in good voice and got behind Montella’s side, who set up in a 4-1-4-1 system. Three minutes in, the Blucerchiati won a free-kick but Zukanovic couldn’t get it up over the wall. Sampdoria bossed possession but the Rossoneri twice went close through Bonaventura and Niang. At the other end, Fernando, Muriel and Carbonero kept Abbiati busy. Sampdoria edged the first half but the scoreline was goalless at the break.

The hosts couldn’t have envisaged a worse start to the second period, however. Bacca escaped midway in the Samp half and fed Niang on the shoulder of the last defender. The Frenchman fired across goal to give AC Milan the lead. Muriel had a chance to level the scores shortly after but he took too long, allowing the Rossoneri defence to get the block in. Then disaster struck, as Zukanovic first went overboard with a challenge, earning a yellow card, before compounding his punishment with a second caution for dissent.

The home side were running out of steam and both sides began to make changes. Fantantonio Cassano came on and drilled a desperate drive deep into stoppage time but the ball whistled by the upright. Bacca then made it 2-0 in the final seconds. Pity, we deserved more.

Sampdoria 0-2 AC Milan (HT: 0-0)
Goalscorers: Niang 48, Bacca 90+3.

Sampdoria (4-1-4-1): Viviano; Cassani, Moisander, Zukanovic, Regini; Fernando; Bonazzoli (Christodoulopoulos 59), Ivan, Soriano, Carbonero (Mesbah 68); Muriel (Cassano 77).
Subs not used: Puggioni, Brignoli, Coda, Rodriguez, Correa, Pereira, Palombo, De Silvestri, Rocca.
Coach: Vincenzo Montella.

AC Milan (4-4-2): Abbiati; Abate, Mexes, Romagnoli, De Sciglio; Cerci (Honda 71), Kucka, Bertolacci (J. Mauri 82), Bonaventura (Poli 77); Bacca, Niang.
Subs not used: Livieri, Donnarumma, L. Adriano, C. Zapata, Montolivo, Simic, Antonelli, De Jong, Calabria.
Coach: Sinisa Mihajlovic.

Referee: Celi (Bari).
Assistants: Di Fiore & Dobosz.
Fourth official: Mazzoleni.

Booked: Bertolacci 4, Mexes, 16, Abate, 34, De Sciglio 51, Christodoulopoulos 51.
Sent off: Zukanovic (two cautions on 64 minutes).
Added time: 0+4 minutes.