(IN THE PHOTO: the match-winner Bacca) 
MILAN – Carlos Bacca’s second-half strike ensured Cristian Brocchi made a winning start to his career on the Milan bench at Sampdoria on Sunday night.The Rossoneri came out for the contest in determined mood and enjoyed two early chances with Balotelli and Bacca both sending efforts narrowly off-target.At the other end, Dodo thought he had given his side the lead after he tapped in at the back post on an acrobatic assist from Fernando, but it was ruled out by the match-officials for offside. In a fast-paced game, Milan went close shortly after the half-hour mark when Bacca came sliding in on an Abate cross only for Viviano to somehow keep it out with a brilliant save.The chances kept on coming after the restart with Milan once again denied by Viviano who came rushing off his line to save a trademark rabona effort from Bacca.Milan’s Colombian star made amends though on 71 minutes when he was picked out by Bonaventura before teeing himself up and firing beyond Samp’s shot-stopper for what proved to be the winning goal.Here are the stats to emerge from the game at the Marassi:15 – Bacca’s strike at the Marassi was his 15th of the season in Serie A.5 – the number of goal-scoring assists by Bonaventura for Bacca.7 – Milan are now unbeaten from the past 7 league meetings with Sampdoria.30 October 2004 – the last time Milan won 1-0 away at Sampdoria in Serie A. On that occasion Andriy Shevchenko scored the winner.