Milan: Play was stopped for several minutes and officials, players and fans left puzzled when goal-line technology appeared to award a goal that never was in Genoa's 2-1 derby defeat at Sampdoria on Saturday.
Genoa had dragged themselves back into the match in the 24th minute when Luca Rigoni struck to level Luis Muriel's 12th-minute opener for the hosts.
But the entire stadium was left befuddled towards the end of the first half when goal-line technology appeared to signal that a powerful header from the Sampdoria defender Matias Silvestre, which rattled off the Genoa crossbar to bounce in front of the goal line, was a valid goal.
Play continued for several seconds, but confused referee Paolo Tagliovento called a stop to the match and, while pointing to his watch, went to consult one of his touchline officials.
The match was delayed for several minutes as officials tried to ascertain why Tagliovento's watch had vibrated while there was clearly no goal.
With the score at 1-1, Genoa goalkeeper Mattia Perin also stopped Fabio Quagliarella from the spot with a superb save in the final seconds of the opening half.
Sampdoria resumed in commanding fashion after the interval, Perin forced to parry a Quagliarella daisy-cutter in the opening seconds.
Less than a minute later, the goalkeeper's luck ran out. Muriel's cross from the right was beaten away before it got to Quagliarella, but it ricocheted off Armando Izzo's stomach and into the net for a 47th-minute winner.
It was Sampdoria's third win in nine games and may just be enough to save embattled coach Gianpaolo Marco for the time being.