Serie A | Sampdoria 0-2 Torino: Granata push Samp down

Sampdoria are sliding towards Serie B after a 2-0 home defeat to Torino, decided by Alessandro Buongiorno’s debut Serie A goal and a controversial Pietro Pellegri.

The Blucerchiati were practically doomed to the drop and coach Dejan Stankovic had reportedly offered his resignation after a 5-0 defeat to Fiorentina, which was rejected. The long absentee list didn’t help, including Emil Audero, Abdelhamid Sabiri, Ignacio Pussetto, Medhi Leris and Filip Djuricic. Toro still missed Nemanja Radonjic, Ola Aina, David Zima and Ronaldo Vieira.

There were touching scenes before kick-off when the home ultras called the squad and coach Stankovic over to sing with them, as a banner reading ‘Hands off Sampdoria’ was held up.

Wilfried Singo’s effort was charged down in the box, but Alessandro Buongiorno scored his debut Serie A goal for Toro by anticipating everyone to the Ivan Ilic cross at the near post with a glancing header.

It continued to be mainly Toro pushing, as Nicola Ravaglia made a fine save on Nikola Vlasic’s volley and Antonio Sanabria’s header skimmed the upright from the resulting corner.

Michael Cuisance went on the counter and had his shot charged down when he should’ve passed it to Manolo Gabbiadini, while Aleksei Miranchuk’s curler skimmed the far post.

Toro added a second in stoppages when Vlasic allowed Pietro Pellegri to spring the offside trap and run from midfield to go around Ravaglia and score into the empty net. The former Genoa player celebrated holding up his hands to his ears in front of the Gradinata Sud containing the Samp fans, sparking a furious reaction from the hosts. He was booked and Bruno Amione was sent off from the bench in the melee.

Sampdoria 0-2 Torino

Buongiorno 31 (T), Pellegri 94 (T)

Sent off: Amione 97 (S)