[goldenHuddlestone]

AC Milans stuttering start to the Serie A season continued when they needed a late strike by defender Kakhaber Kaladze to salvage a 1-1 draw against Sampdoria on Saturday. Behind to a goal by home striker Emiliano Bonazzoli, Milan battled until the 84th minute when the Georgian international broke the offside trap and beat home keeper Luca Castellazzi. Milans draw, on the back of scoreless draws with Livorno and Siena, gave them four points from six matches, eight points behind leaders AS Roma, who play Reggina on Sunday.

Milan failed to capitalise on long periods of possession in the early stages of the match at Sampdorias Ferraris stadium. Striker Filippo Inzaghi angled in a shot that was saved by Castellazzi and was unlucky not to earn a penalty when he tumbled over the goalkeeper in the 38th minute. Sampdoria seemed content to simply soak up the pressure until Dida parried a close-range header by Fabio Quagliarella just before the interval but played with more aggression when they re-emerged from the dressing room.

Midfielder Daniele Franceschini had already fired a long-range effort narrowly over Didas bar when Bonazzoli peeled away from Paolo Maldini to nod in Mirko Pieris cross in the 69th minute. Inzaghi was the Milan player who looked most likely to grab an equaliser. The 33-year-old forced a fingertip save from Castellazzi but in the end it was Kaladze who snatched a point for Milan by running on to Gennaro Gattusos long pass before hooking the ball into the net from the edge of the box.

There was drama in the second ill-tempered match between Siena and Messina at the Artemio Franchi stadium. Messina took the lead through Christian Riganos penalty on 20 minutes before Abdoulay Konko equalised for Siena. Messinas Nicolas Cordova was then dismissed for a second bookable offence on the stroke of half-time. On 69 minutes Carmine Coppola received his marching orders leaving Messina down to nine men. Vincent Candela was given a straight red with two minutes left, and with the match seemingly heading for a draw, Mario Frick and Francesco Cozza struck in the dying minutes to hand Siena a 3-1 victory.

[theo kawala]

well done Ac! lol you got a draw!