Sampdoria defy Roma

Roma’s title hopes took a dent on Sunday night at the Olimpico, as Giampaolo Pazzini’s second-half brace was enough to take the points away from Totti and co. The stadio Olimpico was totally sold out for the crucial match, on one hand Roma needing to maintain their slender advantage in the fight for the Scudetto, on the other Sampdoria, fresh from killing Milan’s title hopes needing to win to avoid slipping behind Palermo in the race to secure the final Champions League spot.

Roma started strongly and it was Totti who opening the scoring, slotting in a neat goal to send the home fans into delirium. However, Samp didn’t come to the capital to watch and reacted with some good build up play, but not the clear chances needed to score.

Sampdoria goalie, Marco Storari, already something of a folk-hero despite only being at the club on loan since January, was again instrumental in limiting the damage done in the first half. He made a couple of great saves, including one from point blank at the near post against Totti. Teams went to the break with Roma in the lead 1-0.

Sampdoria coach Luigi Del Neri made two changes to the mid-field for the start of the second term. With Daniele Mannini replacing ex-Roma winger Stefano Guberti, and Andrea Poli making way in the middle of the park for Fernando Damian Tissone. It only took 7 minutes for the scores to level, as Antonio Cassano beat three Roma defenders on the edge of the box and crossed high to the far post, where Pazzini soared to meet the ball with a strong down header at the feet of Roma’s Julio Sergio.

Storari was again magnificent in the second half, as was the Sampdoria defense in total to hold out a marauding Roma side, held bent on victory. However, in a echo of last weeks win against Milan, it was Daniele Mannini who provided the cross, low in to the 6 yard box, where Pazzini again got inside his marker and with a lunging right foot, steered the ball wide of Julio Sergio, no doubt prompting a deafening roar in the home’s and bar’s of Genova Blucerchiata. Celebrations that spilled over later in the evening as a few hundred fans flocked to the Aeroporto Christoforo Colombo to welcome the team home.

Sampdoria are showing themselves in the last week to be worthy contenders in any European competition, and with this victory they cemented their spot on the international stage. The next match against already relegated Livorno looms as a celebration and an opportunity to exorcise some demons, as the Doriani went down mid-season to the Livornese. Samp now perhaps lining up a late run at third placed Milan, but nonetheless still masters of their own destiny.

doc