Serie A: Sampdoria 2:1 AC Milan - match report
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Source: Football Italia

Scorers: Borriello 20 (M), Cassano pen 59 (S), Pazzini 92 (S)

Giampaolo Pazzini punished 10-man Milan in stoppages to end their Scudetto ambitions and send the Blucerchiati clear in fourth place.

It was fourth welcoming third and the Blucerchiati were buoyed by their derby victory, not to mention unbeaten at home all season. Milan were effectively out of the title race already after one win from five rounds and headlines primarily dealt with Leonardo's future. Andrea Pirlo's ban saw him join David Beckham, Alexandre Pato, Alessandro Nesta, Giuseppe Favalli, Kahka Kaladze and Mathieu Flamini. Samp had Daniele Gastaldello suspended, plus Nicola Pozzi, Accardi and Luca Castellazzi out.

Goalkeeper Marco Storari is currently on loan from Milan and eager to impress the club that owns his contract.

Antonio Cassano only grazed a dangerous Stefano Lucchini cross with his head, while Marco Borriello did the same on Amantino Mancini's assist.

Clarence Seedorf's daisy-cutter whizzed inches wide of the upright, but Milan broke through after 20 minutes.

Former Genoa star Marco Borriello rose relatively undisturbed for a powerful header into the top corner from Mancini's set play.

It should've been 2-0 moments later. Storari came flying out to close down Borriello, but the striker got round him to cross for Mancini and the Brazilian ballooned over an open goal!

Seedorf only managed a fresh-air shot on Ronaldinho's assist, while Giampaolo Pazzini had penalty appeals waved away.

Nelson Dida has been under fire recently, but performed two crucial saves in 30 seconds. The first denied Cassano's volley at the near post after a defensive error, then he was at full stretch to palm Lucchini's header off the line from the resulting corner. The move continued and Cassano nodded just over.

The rest of the first half was all Sampdoria, but they could not find a way through. Milan also lost Massimo Ambrosini to injury, making way for Gianluca Zambrotta.

On 53 minutes the game turned, as Daniele Bonera brought down Cassano with a very clumsy tackle from behind, leading to a penalty and red card. Cassano got back up to convert the spot-kick low to the near post despite Dida guessing the right angle.

More bad news, as Borriello was booked and will be suspended for next week's clash with Palermo. Massimo Oddo had to improvise as a centre-back because there were no other options for Leonardo.

Borriello drilled wide and Storari had his palms stung by Gennaro Gattuso from nine yards after Ronaldinho's assist.

Despite playing a man down, Milan had the better chances at Marassi. Ronaldinho set up Borriello for a great opportunity, but the striker incredibly slipped for a weak effort wide.

Ronaldinho went for goal himself and the curler from the edge of the box skimmed the upright. Dida needed two attempts to get a Reto Ziegler rocket under control.

Zambrotta was fortunate to get in the way and deflect Tissone's powerful shot out for a corner. From the resulting set play, Dida completely missed the ball, but managed to scramble back and block it before it crossed the line.

Sampdoria were pouring forward and deep into stoppages got their goal. Daniele Mannini whipped in a cross from the right for Pazzini's towering header, getting in front of makeshift centre-back Oddo.

Sampdoria: Storari; Zauri, Lucchini, Rossi, Ziegler; Semioli, Palombo, Poli (Tissone 79), Guberti (Mannini 67); Cassano, Pazzini

Milan: Dida; Abate, Bonera, Thiago Silva, Antonini; Gattuso, Ambrosini (Zambrotta 47); Seedorf; Mancini (Oddo 60), Borriello, Ronaldinho

Ref: Rizzoli

Sent off: Bonera 58 (M)

You can watch match highlights on Free Soccer Highlights.

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