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Messina have a foot in Serie B after their 3-1 defeat to Sampdoria in Genoa.
The Sicilians could not afford another setback after five straight defeats, while Samp risked losing the race for a UEFA Cup spot. The home side had Francesco Flachi and Fabio Quagliarella suspended, while Emiliano Bonazzoli was sidelined, leaving precious few options in attack. Messina had even worse disciplinary problems, as Nicholas Caglioni, Alessandro Parisi, Manolo Pestrin, Enrico Morello and Roberto D'Aversa sat out bans.
It was a bad start for Messina, as after 13 minutes Ziegler's free kick was charged down, but the ball came back out to the Swiss midfielder for a strike into the top corner.
The visitors fought back with Edgar Alvarez slipping at the key moment and Christian Rigano' drilled just wide, but it was all Samp. Giulio Falcone's fierce drive was well saved by Gabriele Paoletti and a series of efforts from Palombo and Maggio were charged down.
Alvarez scuffed his effort wide after the break and Messina were able to draw level on 54 minutes. It was top scorere Rigano' who showed his poacher's instinct by finishing off Masiello's counter-attack.
Mirko Pieri had to perform a crucial challenge to stop Alvarez turning in when Rigano' flicked on a goalline clearance for his Honduran teammate.
Ziegler won the ball back and his snapshot was well held by Paoletti and at the other end a Nicolas Cordova trademark free kick was parried.
Messina really should have taken the lead as a lucky ricochet off Christian Maggio sent Cordova clear, but the Chilean horribly wasted this golden opportunity.
It proved very costly indeed, as Sampdoria restored their lead seven minutes from time. Sergio Volpi's solo run earned a corner and Daniele Franceschini scored with a splendid low volley from seven yards, although he was left unmarked. It was the defender's sixth goal of the season.
The final desperate move from Messina boss Bruno Giordano was throwing on striker Arturo Di Napoli. But there was more bad news, as Alvarez was felled by a clumsy Fabio Bazzani tackle that effectively kicked him in the chest. The referee did not even award a free kick, but the Messina player was forced to carry on as the substitutions had been completed.
The game was concluded in the final minute, as the Sicilians were all pouring forward, allowing Gennaro Delvecchio to score on the counter-attack with a powerful effort under the bar from almost 20 metres.
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