UC Sampdoria vs US Lecce - Review and Highlights

SAMPDORIA, Novenber 16 ( Serie A )

UC Sampdoria pulled away from the lower reaches of Serie A with an action-packed victory over US Lecce in Genoa.

Goals from Gennaro Delvecchio and Antonio Cassano inside the first 15 minutes set the home side on their way.

Simone Tiribocchi pulled one back in the 55th minute to put the pressure on Samp, who reacted with a strike from Marius Stankevicius five minutes later.

Tiribocchi grabbed a second eight minutes from the end, but Samp held on for a win which lifts them above their opponents and clear of the bottom three.

Sampdoria coach Walter Mazzarri yesterday highlighted the importance of winning the next two home games to lift his side out of the mire.

And his side went about their task with relish, piling the pressure on the Lecce defence from the off.

Delvecchio netted the opener after 11 minutes, the former Lecce midfielder heading Marco Padalino's cross into the far corner from eight yards.

Cassano doubled the home side's lead three minutes later with a perfect finish from outside the penalty area.

For the Bari-born striker, scoring against his former local rivals was particularly rewarding while the goal, curled into the top corner from 25 yards out, was a delight for the fans at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

Delvecchio had several chances to put the game beyond Lecce, but Francesco Benussi was always in the right place to make the saves.

The closest Lecce came to scoring in the first half was when Luca Ariatti headed just wide of the post with Luca Castellazzi beaten in the 17th minute.

The visitors were back in the game 10 minutes into the second half though when Tiribocchi scored his first of the afternoon.

He headed in a cross from strike partner Daniele Cacia to test the nerves of the Blucerchiati.

Stankevicius gave Samp some respite five minutes later when he restored their two-goal advantage, heading in a long ball from outside the penalty area with Benussi caught in no-man's land outside his goal.

But Lecce refused to lie down and another goal from Tiribocchi in the 82nd minute set the stage for a grandstand finale.

Samp complained the Lecce striker had used his hand in the build-up to the goal but the referee waved away their protests.

After throwing away so many games this season, Samp feared another collapse, but they held on.

They even had chances for a fourth with Daniele Franceschini and Cassano both testing Benussi, but they held on to earn the win they desperately needed.

The win moves them up to 14th, five points above the relegation zone. They are one place and one point better off than Lecce.

UC Sampdoria vs US Lecce - 3 : 2

1:0 - 11' Gennaro Delvecchio
2:0 - 14' Antonio Cassano
2:1 - 55' Simone Tiribocchi
3:1 - 61' Marius Stankevicius
3:2 - 82' Simone Tiribocchi