Samp undone by late Brozovic blow

An excellent Sampdoria display was not enough as an exhilarating game ended in the cruellest of fashions with Marcelo Brozovic’s stoppage-time strike claiming the points for Inter.

The Serie A Week 6 fixture had looked set to finish goalless despite a host of chances for both sides and three disallowed goals – one for Samp and two for Inter – until the Croat fired beneath Emil Audero in the 94th minute.

Marco Giampaolo brought Bartosz Bereszynski back in at right-back and handed Dennis Praet his first start of the season while Gaston Ramirez came in for Gianluca Caprari, who, along with Dawid Kownacki, was deemed not fit enough for the bench.

Samp came out firing on all cylinders and Fabio Quagliarella had a first effort on goal with less than 30 seconds on the clock but Samir Handanovic was equal to his overhead kick.

The Blucerchiati continued to boss the opening exchanges. Roberto Gagliardini closed the door on Gregoire Defrel before Matias Vecino got just enough of a touch to prevent Karol Linetty scoring what looked like a certain goal. Quagliarella then drew two further saves out of Handanovic around the quarter-hour mark.

Inter’s first real threat came in the 33rd minute when Vecino rose to meet Antonio Candreva’s cross but he headed well wide.

The Nerazzurri then took the lead – or so they thought – when Radja Nainggolan fired home from the edge of the box. However, after a long delay and a VAR review the goal was ruled out due to Mauro Icardi’s offside position in the build-up.

The visitors began the second half in the ascendancy with Candreva striking the post (50) and Icardi going close with a diving header (55).

Giampaolo shook up the midfield shortly afterwards as Linetty and Praet made way for Jakub Jankto and Edgar Barreto – the latter having received a plaque to celebrate his 100th appearance for the club before kick-off.

Samp continued to struggle to create openings though, while Audero kept us in it down the other end – saving Candreva’s fierce drive from close range.

Icardi’s aim was off in the 72nd minute then a brilliant Quagliarella effort four minutes also finished off target.

With five minutes left on the clock the skipper was unable to make the most of Joachim Andersen’s knockdown and moments later ex-Doria defender Milan Skriniar lifted a good opportunity over the bar.

The deadlock appeared to have been broken in the 87th minute when Kwadwo Asamoah drilled an unstoppable effort into the bottom corner but once again VAR came to the rescue after it was confirmed that the ball had gone out of play before Danilo D’Ambrosio played in the cross.

Minutes later Defrel thought he had snatched a winner for Samp and rushed over to celebrate with the crowd – only for the raised linesman’s flag to determine otherwise.

Then deep in added time, Brozovic finally scored a goal that did stand to earn all three points and leave Samp with a bitter pill to swallow.

Sampdoria 0-1 Internazionale (HT 0-0)
Scorers: Brozovic 90+4.

Sampdoria (4-3-1-2): Audero; Bereszynski, Tonelli, Andersen, Murru; Praet (Barreto 59), Ekdal, Linetty (Jankto 59); Ramirez (Sala 90+2); Defrel, Quagliarella.
Subs not used: Rafael, Belec, Vieira, Colley, Leverbe, Tavares, Ferrari, Stijepovic, Rolando.
Coach: Giampaolo.

Internazionale (4-2-3-1): Handanovic; D’Ambrosio, Skriniar, Miranda, Asamoah; Vecino, Brozovic; Politano (Perisic 60), Nainggolan (B. Valero 83), Candreva (Keita 69); Icardi.
Subs not used: Padelli, Gagliardini, De Vrij, Lautaro, Ranocchia, Dalbert.
Coach: Spalletti.

Referee: Guida (Torre Annunziata).
Assistants: Meli (Parma) & Paganessi (Bergamo).
Fourth official: Piccinini (Forli).
VAR: Fabbri (Ravenna).
VAR assistant: Vuoto (Livorno).

Booked: Linetty 6, Miranda 20, B. Valero 89 Defrel 90, Tonelli 90+4.
Added time: 2+5 minutes.
Attendance: season tickets 17,042 (€170,794), individual tickets 5,793 (€187,710).
Pitch: good condition.