Roma 4 (9′ e 19′ Dovbyk, 24′ Baldanzi, 79′ Shomurodov) – Sampdoria 1 (61′ Yepes)
The result was certainly not the most important thing about this eighth of Italian Cup. There is too much difference in values between the Sampdoria and the Romaeven though the Giallorossi are also having a terrible time in the championship. An easy competition to avoid attracting criticism, given that what was asked was, fundamentally, an answer from a character point of view. It couldn’t have gone any worse than this though. Sampdoria started the match without determination, conceding three goals in 24 minutes giving the impression of not putting up any resistance. Precisely this feeling of passivity is the real sore point. The Blucerchiati conceded a goal and could have conceded two more in the second half (Vismara’s save on Dovbyk and Soulè’s crossbar) but in the second half the team at least showed the desire to make life difficult for Roma. Semplici tried the 4-3-3 with Pedrola and Borini wide at Leonardi’s sides. In fact the three were never triggered and once the coach conceded the third goal he took action by returning to 3-5-2. Just one flash from the Spaniard, a Nice dribble that sent Hermoso out of gear at the end of the first half. Of the three goals, Sampdoria bears many responsibilities. In the 9th minute Dovbyk scores from two steps with Vismara pinned on the goal line and the central defenders Vulikic and Meulensteen far from the attacker. In the 19th minute Meulensteen intervened awkwardly on a cross and was also unlucky because the ball ended up on the crossbar and then on the head of Dovbyk again who scored with an empty net. Third goal plastic representation of Sampdoria’s passivity in the first half hour. Baldanzi receives in the midfield behind Vieira, who simply observes him. Same thing as Veroli who doesn’t shorten and lets the former Empoli player kick undisturbed. The start of the second half was good, with the arrival of Depaoli who seemed to give the team greater determination. Samp capitalizes with Yepes’s insertion following a cross from Depaoli. But Roma shakes themselves off and comes close to scoring a poker on a couple of occasions which they then find thanks to a header from Shomurodov who overpowers Venuti. Little else to tell and very little to save in a race in which, as they said, a show of pride would have been enough to raise a few half-smiles.
The match minute by minute
93′ Triple whistle. Roma in the quarter-finals. He will challenge Milan.
92′ Sampdoria closes forward, Sekulov pounces on a ball in the area. Rivals defenders. According to the referee, the last touch belongs to the former Juventus player. Return from the back.
90′ Three minutes of added time.
89′ Very little happens in this final match. Roma dribble, Sampdoria careful to limit the damage.
79′ Roma Poker. Angelino crosses undisturbed, Shomurodov overtakes Venuti and hits a strong header past Vismara.
76′ Akinsanmiro leaves the field. In his place Bellemo.
75′ Akinsanmiro recovers a nice ball by uprooting it from Le Fée’s feet. Then he leads the ball but collapses to the ground, perhaps due to cramps. Meanwhile, Dovbyk is out and former Genoa player Shomurodov is in.
70′ Two changes for Roma: Pellegrini for Paredes, Zalewski makes room for Dahl.
69′ Leonardi leaves the field for the benefit of Sekulov.
67′ Borini harsh on Paredes, booked.
65′ Super Vismara! Dovbyk alone in front of the goal tries a low shot but the goalkeeper quickly “goes down” deflecting the ball.
63′ Roma responds immediately with substitute Soulè who launches a curling shot from the edge which hits the crossbar near the crossed Vismara beaten.
62′ Changes in both teams: Saelemaekers leaves room for Soulè, Le Fée for Pisilli. In Sampdoria, Benedetti for Vieira.
61′ Sampdoria shortens! Depaoli puts a cross to the center slightly backwards. Yepes inserts himself, controls well, wedging himself between the defenders and makes no mistakes in front of Ryan.
51′ The Blucerchiati seem to enter with a different attitude compared to the first half. Meanwhile, Vulikic spends a yellow card to stop Roma’s restart.
50′ Leonardi receives his back to goal and turns well. Pisilli spends the foul. Free kick on the midfield for Sampdoria.
46′ We start again. Iaonnou and Depaoli for Pedrola and Veroli.
Waiting for the second half
The difference in values is clear, true, but the surrender of a timid and inattentive Sampdoria team that took to the field is more worrying than a 3-0 score gained in just over 20 minutes.
45′ Nice shot from Pedrola who receives on the outside and sends Hermoso spinning who ends up off the pitch. Service at the center. He pushes the defense back short, Veroli shoots high. The first half ends here
38′ Semplici immediately renounces the trident tests by switching to 3-5-2.
36′ Sampdoria’s first offensive sortie, with Pedrola serving Veroli well. Roma closes, then the ball goes between Leonardi’s feet, a nice swerve into the heart of the area but his shot is rebounded.
Disconcerting first quarter of the match for Sampdoria. It was obvious that it would be a painful match, but the goals conceded with the team lined up and without putting up any resistance are a very bad sign.
24′ Roma’s trio with Baldanzi. The former Empoli player receives from the frontcourt, turns around with Vieira who observes him without intervening. Then Veroli in turn stalls, leaving him time to take aim and kick crossing the ball without leaving Vismara a chance.
23′ Harsh intervention by Pisilli on Veroli penalized with the yellow card.
19′ Another cross from Saelemaekers puts Sampdoria’s defense in crisis. Meulensteen intervenes awkwardly, sending it onto the crossbar. The ball returns to the area with Vismara now on the ground. Dovbyk scores the easiest of goals with a header from two steps away.
14′ Yepes awkwardly loses a ball served to him by Vismara. Horizontal support “for no one” on which Saelemaekers pounces and hurls a fireball over the crossbar.
9′ Roma already ahead. Crosses Saelemaekers from the right. Dovbyk slips between Meulensteen and Vulikic to score from two steps. Carelessness of the central defenders who leave the Capitoline attacker undisturbed and the goalkeeper nailed to the goal line.
7′ Paredes corner. Head of Hermoso. Vismara saves but the referee blows his whistle because the trajectory given by the Argentine batsman made the ball go out.
4′ Roma start off strong. The first shot is from Baldanzi who dribbles past Meulensteen in the area and shoots from a tight angle. Doesn’t corner, Vismara blocks.
1′ Off. Semplici proposes a four-man defense, confirming Meulensteen at the center of the rearguard. The coach could be willing to abandon the 3-5-2. Attack without the market hits Tutino and Coda but room for Pedrola, Borini and Leonardi.
First half
Roma (3-4-2-1): Ryan; Celik, Ndicka, Hermoso; Zalewski, Pisilli, Paredes, Angelino; Saelemaekers, Baldanzi; Dovbyk. Trainer: Claudio Ranieri.
Referee: Dionysis of L’Aquila. Assistants: C. Rossi – Palermo. Fourth Officer: Duties. OUR: Maggioni. AVAR: Wonder.
Italian Cup opportunity for redemption and test for the championship. At the Olympic stadium in Rome, Sampdoria tries to reach the quarter-finals of the Italian Cup. The Blucerchiati have already eliminated two Serie A teams in this edition of the national cup. In August, under Pirlo’s management, Como went to penalties. At the end of September Genoa always after spot kicks in one of the few positive moments of the Sottil era. Now with Semplici a decidedly more complicated round given the value of the opponent. But like the Blucerchiati, former Claudio Ranieri’s Roma are the great disappointment of their championship. The Romans are just above the relegation zone despite a roster of top-level players. Also in this case, the team is led by the third coach of the season who arrived after De Rossi and Juric.
