Diakité knocks out Sampdoria, Palermo in semifinals

Palermo-Sampdoria 2-0

Sampdoria’s dreams of promotion to Serie A are dashed against Palermo. In the preliminary round of the Serie B playoffs, in fact, the Blucerchiati fell against the Rosanero, who won 2-0 in front of a packed 'Barbera'. To decide the challenge è a double by Diakité.

Palermo started strong and in the eighth minute'Insigne gobbled up the lead, kicking wide from a favorable position. In the 34th, however, è Stankovic denied the Rosanero the lead thanks to a miracle on Soleri’s precise header. In the final, however, the hosts still found the way to the goal with Diakité who beat Stankovic with an outside half on Brunori’s cross from the left.

In the second half Palermo doubled again with Diakité who had to back a cross from the left by Lund from two steps. Samp tried to react with a shot from the distance by Benedetti that forced Desplanches to deflect into the corner. The blucerchiati però do not make themselves really dangerous anymore and, on the contrary, it is the hosts who come close to the tris on more than one occasion.

Palermo can thus celebrate access to the semifinals where it will face Venezia. The first leg will be played on Monday, May 20, in Palermo, while the return leg is scheduled for Friday, May 24, in Venice.