Milan`s Form Crisis Deepens With Sampdoria Loss

Brazilian Alexandre Pato pulled one back for Milan 10 minutes from time to set up an exciting finale.

AC Milan's form crisis deepened on Sunday when goals by Antonio Cassano and Giampaolo Pazzini condemned them to a 2-1 defeat at Sampdoria in Serie A, leaving coach Carlo Ancelotti's position looking precarious.

Cassano headed the hosts in front in the 33rd and his strike partner Pazzini stretched the lead six minutes into the second half with his fifth goal in as many games.

Brazilian Alexandre Pato pulled one back for Milan 10 minutes from time to set up an exciting finale.

Second-placed Juventus cut Inter Milan's lead to six points on Saturday by beating Napoli 1-0 in Turin but the champions were looking to go nine clear again with a home win over AS Roma later on Sunday (1930).

Trailing leaders Inter by 11 points, coach Carlo Ancelotti had already called third-placed Milan out of the title race, saying a top three finish for direct entry into next season's Champions League was the target after being knocked out of the UEFA Cup by Werder Bremen on Thursday.

Even that modest objective now looks in peril although Fiorentina missed the chance to join Milan in third when they were held 1-1 at bottom side Reggina.

"We are conceding goals too easily. We found ourselves 2-0 down even though we had played more or less as well as Sampdoria," Ancelotti told Sky television.

"It is a delicate moment that must pass and we must make it pass with the least damage possible."

FURIOUS PROTEST

Milan protested furiously about Cassano's opener, arguing keeper Christian Abbiati had stopped the ball before it crossed the line, but TV replays seemed to show the referee made the right decision.

Ancelotti's men channelled their anger into surging forward.

But their hopes of making a comeback suffered the big blow when Pazzini showed great skill to shake off the attention of Daniele Bonera before slotting into the far corner.

Pato nodded in a Giuseppe Favalli cross to revive them near the end. His compatriot Emerson had an equaliser disallowed for offside but Samp withstood the pressure to take the spoils.

Giuseppe Mascara scored the goal of the day with a remarkable hoof from just beyond half way for the third goal in Catania's 4-0 demolition job at Sicilian rivals Palermo, who had Mark Bresciano sent off early on.