[Forza_Roma]

Serie A Week 34 - 29/4/07 (14.00 UK)

Siena 0 - 2 Sampdoria
Maggio 38 (Sa), Delvecchio 89 (Sa)
Stadio Artemio Franchi

Siena are back in the relegation battle after this unlucky home defeat, but paid the price for some terrible finishing.

It's unlikely either of these tacticians will be on the bench next season, as Mario Beretta struggles to keep Siena in Serie A and this week Walter Novellino blasted the 'ungrateful' Samp fans for not appreciating their UEFA Cup challenge. Enrico Chiesa faced his former club and the Blucerchiati could certainly do with his talents right now. Sergio Volpi was suspended, with Emiliano Bonazzoli, Fabio Bazzani and the banned Francesco Flachi out of action.

Chiesa set up a Luca Antonini opportunity smothered by Luca Castellazzi and Daniele Corvia also failed to make the most of the veteran's assist.

So Chiesa went for goal himself and the fine volley took a coat of paint off the near post.

Instead, Sampdoria took the lead with Christian Maggio's spectacular goal. He had his back to the net and spun round during his volley to smash in at the near post.

Siena thought they had equalised within 30 seconds, but Corvia's effort was disallowed for offside. Corvia was also booked for simulation in his penalty appeals.

Alex Manninger rushed out to close down Quagliarella as he ran on to Gennaro Delvecchio's assist.

The second half started with a bang as both sides poured forward. Luca Castellazzi parried a scuffed Chiesa effort, then Rinaudo couldn't quite bundle a corner kick over the line from close range. Manninger did well to beat away a Quagliarella angled drive.

On 58 minutes Ziegler's snapshot from the edge of the area thumped the base of the near post with Manninger well beaten, then Chiesa just failed to get his toe on to Antonini's sweeping low cross.

Substitute Mario Frick fired over as he joined a new Siena trident attack. The home side was now dominating and Antonini took the ball off teammate Vergassola's head when he was in a better position.

It was all Siena in the second half, but this just left space for the counter-attack and Delvecchio kept his cool to shake off a Rinaudo challenge and smash the finish across the face of goal. It sealed Samp's first away win in eight attempts and infuriated Siena Coach Mario Beretta, who took his frustration out on the bench.

Siena: Manninger; Negro, Portanova, Rinaudo, Molinaro; Alberto (Frick 57), Galloppa, Vergassola, Antonini (Cozza 80); Chiesa (Eremenko 65), Corvia

Sampdoria: Castellazzi; Zenoni (Olivera 74), Falcone (Sala 65), Accardi, Pieri; Maggio, Parola, Palombo, Delvecchio; Franceschini (Ziegler 54); Quagliarella

Ref: Brighi

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