Serie A 21/22: Sampdoria 1-1 Venezia

Venezia arrived in the Ligurian capital of Genova in good spirits — having fought back to capture a point from Juventus last weekend, which brought them six points clear of the drop zone — and they were keen to add more points to their haul as they took on Sampdoria at Stadio Luigi Ferraris yesterday — only to fall behind just 38 seconds into the match. Indeed, the best laid plans often go awry. But Venezia kept their cool and persistently probed for an equalizer, until Thomas Henry finally delivered it three minutes from time with a strike of the highest order, snatching yet another key result in the team's 2021/22 Serie A campaign.

The opening goal came in a blur. When left-back Tommaso Augello pinged a ball into the box, Manolo Gabbiadini dummied it for his strike partner Francesco Caputo, who played it first-time right back to Gabbiadini, and the veteran striker neatly finished. With just three touches, Sampdoria had sliced open the Venezia defense.

But while Samp would continue with an edge in possession and shots, Venezia wouldn’t wilt, led by a young midfield three of Gianluca Busio, Ethan Ampadu, and Tanner Tessmann, who helped stem the tide. As the half wore on, though Venezia would not manage any real tests for ‘keeper Emil Audero, they did well to stay in the match and set up the chance to respond.

Coming out for the second half, in similar fashion to the Juventus match, Venezia turned up the pressure, gradually taking control of the match, with 54% possession over the final 45 minutes.

Sofian Kiyine, who created a match-high five chances, helped spark Venezia’s attack with his vision, creativity, and masterful control of the ball. In the 54th minute, Kiyine combined with Dennis Johnsen to set up Mattia Aramu for a good look at goal, but Aramu’s weaker right foot dragged the attempt just wide. Three minutes later, Kiyine fluttered into the box again from the left wing, this time shooting himself and forcing Audero into a save.

Soon after, Zanetti made his first moves of the match. Tessmann had been a strong presence all over the pitch on the evening, but he would be sacrificed to bring Henry into the attack (Tessmann’s 45 minutes in midweek in a Coppa Italia win over Ternana perhaps also being a factor), while Ampadu was swapped for deep-lying distributor A.J. Vacca. With that, Kiyine dropped deeper into midfield to join Busio and Vacca, while Aramu shifted centrally to work the lines and feed Johnsen and Henry, in a 4-3-1-2 formation.

As Venezia’s momentum grew, Zanetti made further substitutions to introduce attacker Arnór Sigurðsson, midfielder Domen Črnigoj, and target man Francesco Forte.

In the 80th minute, a cross-shot from Sigurðsson nearly found Henry at the back post, but it was fractionally out of reach.

The pitch was tilted, and it felt like an equalizer just had to come. The question was, had they left it too late.

But seek and ye shall find. And what a payoff it would be.

In the 87th minute, after a midfield pass was blocked, Henry picked up the ball in Samp’s end and went for goal. Dribbling in from left to right, Henry created the angle he needed for a curling shot to the far post. Every soul in Stadio Luigi Ferraris knew exactly what Henry wanted to do, but the Frenchman would hit it with such power and precision that there was no stopping it, as his majestic strike bent around a diving Audero and inside the post.

Venezia would have a scare in the final minutes, but center-back Mattia Caldara would make a heroic clearance off the line on a laser of a shot hit from midfielder Antonio Candreva. And a precious point was secured.

Now seven points above the relegation zone, Venezia welcome eighth-place Lazio to Stadio Penzo on Wednesday night in Gionata 19, which marks the midpoint of the 2021/22 Serie A season.

Sampdoria 1-1 Venezia

Scorers: Gabbiadini 1’, Henry 87’

Sampdoria (4-3-1-2): Audero, Augello, Colley, Yoshida, Bereszyńsk (Drăgușin 61’), Silva, Akdal (Askildsen 86’), Canderva, Gabbiadini (Verre 61’), Thorsby, Caputo (Quagliarella 75’)
Subs not used: Cabot, Ciervo, Depaoli, Ferrari, Yepes, Murru, Ravaglia, Falcone
Manager: Roberto D'Aversa

Venezia(4-3-2-1): Romero, Mazzocchi, Caldara, Ceccaroni, Ebuehi, Busio (Črnigoj 69’), Ampadu (Vacca 58’), Tessmann (Henry 58’), Aramu (Forte 78’), Kiyine, Johnsen (Sigurðsson 69’)
Subs not used: Lezzerini, Svoboda, Molinaro, Schnegg, Heymans, Peretz, Bjarkason
Manager: Paolo Zanetti