Kaladze comes to Milan's rescue

AC Milan needed an 84th-minute goal from defender Kakha Kaladze to salvage a 1-1 Serie A draw against UC Sampdoria.

Headed opener
Milan failed to capitalise on long periods of possession in the early stages in Genoa. Striker Filippo Inzaghi angled in a shot which was saved by Luca Castellazzi and was unlucky not to earn a penalty when he tumbled over the goalkeeper in the 38th minute. Sampdoria played with more aggression in the second half and midfielder Daniele Franceschini had already fired a long-range effort narrowly over Dida's bar when Emiliano Bonazzoli peeled away from Paolo Maldini to nod in Mirko Pieri's cross in the 69th minute.

Third draw
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 earned a point by running on to Gennaro Gattuso's long pass and hooking the ball into the net from the edge of the box. Milan's third successive draw leaves them on four points from six matches, eight behind the leaders AS Roma, who play Reggina Calcio on Sunday.

Nine men
In Saturday's other match, AC Siena scored twice in added time to defeat FC Messina Peloro 3-1, who ended the contest with nine men after midfielders Carmine Coppola and Nicolas Cordova picked up red cards. Siena are fourth, Messina seventh.