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Italian Serie A: Rodrigo De Paul does it all for Udinese, Suso's stunning strike earns AC Milan win

Associated Press Sunday, 28 October 2018, 20:50 Last update: about 7 years ago

A stunning strike from Suso saw AC Milan put a miserable week behind it to beat Sampdoria 3-2 in the Italian league on Sunday.

The Spain forward struck shortly after the hour mark, racing down the right and cutting in before curling the ball into the far bottom corner.

Patrick Cutrone scored Milan's opener and assisted the other for Gonzalo Higuain, while former Milan midfielder Riccardo Saponara also had a goal and an assist for Sampdoria.

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Milan came into the game after back-to-back defeats against Inter Milan in Serie A and Real Betis in the Europa League, and was languishing in the second half of the standings.

Gennaro Gattuso's team is now fifth.

Suso also had a hand in Milan's opener in the 17th minute, whipping in a cross from the right which Cutrone headed in at the far post.

Samp equalized four minutes later. Fabio Quagliarella sparked a counterattack and picked out Saponara, who cut inside the area and drilled into the far bottom corner.

It was Saponara's first goal for Sampdoria and he returned the favor in the 31st with a ball over the top for Quagliarella to volley the visitors ahead.

However, its lead also lasted just four minutes before Higuain played a one-two with Cutrone and slotted past Samp goalkeeper Emil Audero.

Sampdoria had the meanest defense in the league, having let in just four goals in its previous nine matches but it conceded three against Milan.

After scoring the winner, Suso almost set up another goal late on but Diego Laxalt hit the post.

Napoli hosts Roma later Sunday.

DE PAUL TO RESCUE

Rodrigo De Paul is almost single-handedly keeping Udinese out of the relegation zone.

Of Udinese's 10 goals this season, De Paul has been involved in eight of them, with five scored and three assisted.

He assisted on one and scored the equalizer in a 2-2 draw at Genoa.

The 24-year-old winger, who this month made his first appearance for Argentina's national team, provided the cross for Kevin Lasagna's header that made it 1-1 and then scored from the edge of the area with a precise shot five minutes later.

Romulo and Cristian Romero scored for Genoa, which ended with 10 men following a red card to Romero.

Udinese has nine points from 10 matches and is three points above the drop zone.

Genoa has 14 points.

NEGATIVE CHIEVO

Last-place Chievo Verona remained with minus 1 point following a 2-1 loss at Cagliari.

Chievo was deducted three points last month for false accounting. It has gained two points from draws.

The Verona squad has lost both its matches since former Italy coach Gian Piero Ventura was hired to replace Lorenzo D'Anna.

Cagliari's Leonardo Pavoletti scored one goal and set up another for Lucas Castro before Mariusz Stepinski pulled one back for Chievo.

Pavoletti's goal gave him 19 headed goals for his Serie A career, matching Inter's Mauro Icardi for best among active players.

FROSINONE'S FIRST

Promoted Frosinone earned its first win of the season with a 3-0 victory at Spal.

Raman Chibsah, Camillo Ciano and Andrea Pinamonti scored against a Spal side that was coming off a shock 2-0 win at Roma.

EMILIAN DERBY

Sassuolo twice came back from a goal down to draw 2-2 with Bologna in an Emilian derby.

Former AC Milan midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng scored a decisive penalty five minutes from the end, giving him four goals in eight matches since returning to Serie A.

Rodrigo Palacio had put Bologna ahead two minutes in then Marlon Santos equalized for Sassuolo in the 17th.

Ibrahim Mbaye again put Bologna in front with a fortunate goal after the break before Stefano Sensi earned the penalty that Boateng converted.

Sassuolo has lost only once in five home matches.

Bologna, which is coached by former Milan striker Filippo Inzaghi, is 16th.

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