Doom and gloom for Chievo

Chievo remained in the Serie A relegation mix after throwing away the lead to lose 2-1 against 10-man Sampdoria.

Chievo remained firmly in the Serie A relegation mix after throwing away the lead to lose 2-1 against 10-man Sampdoria at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris on Sunday. The Flying Donkeys headed into the game just two points clear of the drop zone but looked set to haul themselves away from trouble when Cyril Thereau coolly converted from the penalty spot midway through the second half after Samp defender Shkodran Mustafi had been sent off for a professional foul on Victor Obinna. But the mid-table hosts made light of their numerical disadvantage and turned the game on its head with two goals in the final 10 minutes, Citadin Eder equalising in the 81st minute and Roberto Soriano completing the comeback in stoppage time. Despite having little to play for, it was the hosts who started very much the brighter as they looked to improve on a run which had seen them win just one of their previous six league games. Eder lashed over the bar on a couple of occasions and also rounded Chievo goalkeeper Michael Agazzi but found himself forced too wide to get his shot on target. Agazzi was called into action just before the half-hour to keep out a solid left-footed drive from Gianluca Sansone as Samp continued to push forward. Perparim Hetemaj fired over from outside the box in the 37th minute and Thereau had a header well saved by Vincenzo Fiorillo two minutes before half-time, which was as good as it got for Chievo in the first period. They almost found themselves behind at the break but were saved by the woodwork as Mustafi's volley hit the far post. Chievo's Tiberio Guarente sent a cross-shot just over the bar and Samp's Angelo Palombo saw a long-range blast fizz inches wide of the left post in the early stages of the second half, before the deadlock was finally broken. Obinna's effort from the edge of the box hit the post and, although he latched onto the rebound, he had his shirt pulled by Mustafi before he could get his shot away. The defender was shown a straight red card and Thereau slotted into the bottom-right corner with Fiorillo well beaten. The game continued to flow from end to end with both sides creating decent chances. Stefano Okaka found Eder with a clever back-heel but the Brazilian stabbed wide from close range, while Guarente sent another attempt from distance just wide for the visitors. The equaliser arrived nine minutes from time, Eder slotting in at the far post from Vasco Regini's pass. And then, in stoppage time, Regini was again the provider, producing a cross which Hetemaj was unable to clear and which fell for Soriano - on his return after suspension - to drive into the bottom-right corner from the edge of the box.