Boselli claims winner over sorry Samp

Posted Sunday, May 08, 2011 by PA

Mauro Boselli picked the best possible moment to score his first goal for Genoa as he grabbed a dramatic last-gasp winner in a 2-1 triumph over Sampdoria which pushed the defeated side closer to relegation.

Antonio Floro Flores put Genoa in front on the stroke of half-time, but Nicola Pozzi pulled Samp level in the 66th minute.

The home team ended the game with 10 men when Giandomenico Mesto was sent off in the last minute, but they still found a winner with the very last kick of the game with Boselli breaking the Samp fans' hearts and pushing them closer to Serie B.

Samp started the brighter of the two, even though many of their fans had decided not to attend the game, probably out of fear of being derided for 90 minutes by the home fans.

Reto Ziegler's free-kick in the second minute picked out Stefano Lucchini, whose header was deflected wide.

Four minutes later, Jonathan Biabiany sent in a cross which Pozzi headed over the crossbar and then Angelo Palombo shot over the crossbar from 20 yards out.

Genoa's first chance of the game came in the 26th minute when Floro Flores reached Marco Rossi's cross on the stretch, but he did not make the best of contacts and the ball appeared to cannon wide off his knee.

As the sides were preparing to go in on level terms, Floro Flores put the Rossoblu in front.

He raced in at the far post to head in from a corner and spark the first chorus of chants from the home fans suggesting that Samp will be playing in a league below them next season.

Samp had to respond, and they did.

Stefano Guberti's cross was met by Biabiany at the near post in the 63rd minute, but he directed the ball wide of the post by inches.

Three minutes later, an error by Genoa goalkeeper Eduardo was pounced upon by Pozzi to bring the Blucerchiati level.

Palombo's shot from 25 yards may have moved in the air, but the Portuguese goalkeeper was clearly at fault for letting the ball bounce off his chest into the path of the Samp striker, who accepted the gift.

Genoa invited pressure upon them with a string of misplaced clearances and passes, but Samp failed to take advantage.

They were even given a one-man advantage for the six minutes of stoppage time after Mesto was sent off for starting a fight with Ziegler, but still the visitors could not find a winner.

Instead, Boselli opened his account with the very last kick of the game, sending his shot into the far corner from 15 yards to spark delirious scenes in the stands as the Samp players collapsed to the ground in shock and dismay.