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| Rossoneri out of title race |
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Sampdoria practically ended AC Milan's slim title hopes with a 2-1 win which puts them on course for Champions League football next season.
Marco Borriello put the visitors ahead against the run of play in the 20th minute, but a red card for central defender Daniele Bonera early in the second half, which led to Antonio Cassano levelling from the penalty spot, tipped the scales in the home side's favour.
They left it late to net a winner, though, with Giampaolo Pazzini nodding in their second in stoppage time to boost their hopes of playing in the Champions League next season.
With four games of the season remaining, they lead fifth-placed Palermo by two points while Milan find themselves six adrift of league leaders Inter Milan and unlikely to now challenge for silverware.
Samp made the brighter start, but it was Milan who went ahead with their first shot on target in the 20th minute.
Former Genoa striker Borriello met a corner from the right with an unstoppable header past Marco Storari from eight yards.
Milan took heart from their lead and Borriello almost created a second in the 23rd minute when he skipped past Storari on the edge of his penalty area and pulled the ball back to Mancini, who volleyed over the crossbar from eight yards.
The rest of the half belonged to Samp with Cassano's volley on the turn pushed over the crossbar instinctively by Dida in the 38th minute.
From the subsequent corner, Stefano Lucchini's header was pushed wide by the Milan goalkeeper.
Shortly afterwards, another header caused Milan danger with Cassano sending the ball over the crossbar from eight yards out.
Samp finally levelled in the 54th minute with Cassano scoring from the penalty spot after he had been fouled by Bonera inside the area.
Bonera was shown a red card for hacking the Samp striker down as he was preparing to shoot with only Dida to beat from six yards.
Rather than look for a winner against 10-man opposition, Samp sat back and, by doing so, invited Milan to attack.
And the Rossoneri had three excellent chances to go back in front with Gennaro Gattuso firing straight at Storari, Borriello dragging his shot wide of the post and Ronaldinho curling an effort from 20 yards just wide of the far post with Storari beaten.
As the clock ran down, Samp suddenly regrouped to put pressure on Dida's goal for the final five minutes.
Substitute Fernando Tissone's shot was blocked on the line by Thiago Silva before Dida dived on a loose ball just before it rolled over the goal line.
Samp then grabbed the winner in the second minute of stoppage time with Pazzini heading in Daniele Mannini's cross from close range.
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