Sampdoria miss out on Europa League spot despite Eto'o equalizer
Substitute Samuel Eto'o struck a last-gasp equaliser at Empoli on Sunday but it was not enough as Sampdoria's hopes of playing in Europe next season ended following the 1-1 draw.
Manuel Pucciarelli gave Empoli a deserved lead in the 58th minute after team-mate Matias Vecino had been denied by the crossbar in the opening half.
Eto'o pulled Samp level in stoppage time but the visitors could not find the winner.
The result at the Carlo Castellani stadium assured Samp's city rivals Genoa and Fiorentina of a top-six finish in Serie A and qualification to the 2015-16 Europa League.
Samp remain seventh in the standings, four points adrift of sixth-place Fiorentina with one game remaining.
The visitors went into the contest needing a victory to remain in the battle for European football but Sinisa Mihajlovic's men struggled against a determined Empoli.
Empoli, already safe, may have had nothing but pride to play for, but they nevertheless looked keen to end their final home game of the season on a high note.
The hosts were unlucky not to go in front in the third minute when Vecino found space just outside the area and struck a right-footed shot that beat Samp goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano but rebounded off the crossbar.
Viviano was twice called into action shortly after to save long-range attempts from Riccardo Sapponara and Massimo Maccarone.
Empoli increased the pressure and in the 31st minute, Viviano had to dive to his right to clear Vecino's bullet strike from 20 yards.
Just before half-time, Sampdoria defender Vasco Regini made a vital block on Pucciarelli's goal-bound strike from 15 yards to deny Empoli a 1-0 lead.
The hosts picked up where they left off after the re-start and in the 50th minute, Pucciarelli fed Sapponara in the box before his effort was kept out by Viviano.
In the 57th minute, Mihajlovic brought on Eto'o in the hope of sparking his team forward but - seconds later - Empoli took the lead.
Maccarone set up Pucciarelli in the box and the striker hit a right-footed attempt from 12 yards past Viviano to celebrate his first goal since October 5, 2014.
The visitors showed more grit up front and almost pulled level in the 75th minute. Alfred Duncan fed Luis Muriel in the box but his right-footed attempt was saved by Empoli goalkeeper Davide Bassi.
Shortly after, Lorenzo De Silvestri's header from Ducan's cross was saved by Bassi.
Bassi could do nothing as Samp equalised with Eto'o finding the back of the net for the second time in 17 appearances for his side.
Muriel fed the Cameroon forward just outside the area and his diagonal strike beat Bassi.
