Spezia overturn Barreto opener in charity friendly for Genoa victims

Sampdoria and Spezia came together for a charity match on Saturday night to raise funds for the families of the 43 victims of the Morandi bridge collapse – and to keep engines ticking over during the international break.

The Blucerchiati, missing 15 first-team players (10 on international duty and five left out to focus on individual work), took the lead courtesy of a brilliantly worked goal after a quarter of an hour. Edgar Barreto started and finished the move as he played a quick one-two with Gregoire Defrel then exchanged two return passes with Gianluca Caprari before knocking the ball past Lamanna.

Okereke had the chance to level for the visitors in the 23rd minute but, with the goal at his mercy, contrived to shoot against the post.

He made amends ten minutes later when he was played in behind the backline and crashed an unstoppable effort inside Rafael’s near post to level the scores.

Spezia went in front on the stroke of half time after Daouda Peeters was adjudged to have controlled the ball with his hand in the box. Galabinov stepped up and duly converted from the spot.

The pace dropped off after the restart but Samp still had chances to equalise, most notably through Caprari (68) and Primavera youngsters Mohamed Bahlouli (76) and Yassine Ejjaki (90).

Spezia held on to claim the eighth edition of the Mattia and Ilaria trophy, held annually in memory of two Spezia fans who sadly died before their time.

Spezia 2-1 Sampdoria (HT 2-1)
Scorers: Barreto 16, Okereke 34, Galabinov 44 (pen).

Spezia (4-3-3): Lamanna (Manfredini 86); De Col, Terzi, Giani (Capradossi 80), Augello; Bartolomei (Mora 46), Ricci, Crimi (Maggiore 80); Okereke (Pierini 46), Galabinov (Gudjohnsen 80), Bidaoui (Gyasi 46).
Subs not used: Barone, De Francesco, Bastoni, Vignali, Figoli.
Coach: Marino.

Sampdoria (4-3-1-2): Rafael; Rolando, Ferrari (Leverbe 59), Colley, Tavares; Barreto (Ejjaki 80), Peeters, Sala; Caprari; Defrel (Bahlouli 72), Quagliarella (Ramírez 46).
Subs not used: Raspa, Maggioni, Sorensen, Giordano, Canovi, Maglie.
Coach: Giampaolo.

Referee: Piscopo di Imperia.
Assistants: Rossi (La Spezia) and Schirru (Nichelino).

Added time: 0+0 minutes.
Attendance: 2,682 (€16,613).
Pitch: excellent condition.