Atalanta 1 : 2 Sampdoria - Samp fight back to beat Atlanta

Posted Monday, March 02, 2015 by PA

Sampdoria came from behind to beat Atalanta 2-1 on Sunday for their first win since January 18.

Stefano Okaka struck the winner nine minutes from time to silence the crowd at the Atleti Azzurri d'Italia stadium.

The hosts had taken a 16th-minute lead through defender Guglielmo Stendardo but the visitors pulled level in the 68th minute thanks to a goal from Luis Muriel, who started for the first time since joining Samp from Udinese in January.

Okaka then clinched all three points for Samp, a team who had collected just three points - all from draws - since their previous victory.

Samp climbed to sixth in the standings with the win while Atalanta slipped to their fourth straight defeat and are 17th in the standings, only three points above of the relegation zone.

Samp were without the team's leading scorer Citadin Eder, who was suspended after being booked in last week's 1-1 draw against city rivals Genoa.

Recent signings Muriel and Samuel Eto'o started alongside Okaka in Samp's attack.

Muriel created the first chance of the game in the sixth minute with his bullet strike from 30 yards but it was kept out by Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Sportiello.

Shortly after, Eto'o found space and struck a right-footed attempt that went wide.

Atalanta then took a 16th-minute lead against the run of play. Boukary Drame crossed towards the far post and Stendardo was on hand to slot home.

The hosts almost doubled their lead midway through the first half when Carlos Carmona drilled a right-footed volley on target but Sampdoria goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano was equal to the task.

Samp had the last opportunity of the first half when Afriyie Acquah got past his marker and unleashed a 30-yard shot that was kept out by Viviano.

The visitors pressed forward more aggressively after the re-start and, in the 58th minute, Sportiello was called on to make a save from Muriel's right-footed volley from outside the area.

Samp came close to equalising two minutes later.

Atalanta midfielder Luca Cigarini did well to block Matias Silvestre's goal-bound header but the rebound fell to Muriel, whose spectacular scissor-kick attempt went wide.

Samp's efforts paid off when Okaka set up Muriel in the box and his diagonal strike went past a helpless Sportiello to make it 1-1.

The visitors got the winner in the 81st minute. Sportiello spilled Eto'o's goal-bound shot and Okaka was first to the rebound, knocking it in from two yards for the 2-1 triumph.b