Round of 16 of the Italian Cup. Everything was too easy for Roma, Sampdoria sunk in the first half: 4-1 at the Olimpico – Lavocedigenova.it

It was difficult to imagine that a round of 16 final of the Italian Cup at Roma could revive Sampdoria’s fortunes, but for Semplici’s Blucerchiati the hopes of being able to at least make life complicated for the Giallorossi were extinguished within twenty-five minutes, enough to Ranieri’s team, victorious 4-1, to put qualification for the quarter-finals on ice.

An overwhelming result that certainly doesn’t help to lift the morale of the Ligurians, still searching for their own identity after the relay on the bench between Sottil and Semplici. There are many new formations, starting from the initial formation – a too vulnerable 4-3-3 capable of facilitating the plays of Saelemaekers, the assist man version, Dovbyk, scorer of the first two goals between the 9′ and 18′, and Baldanzi, who scored a little later with a left-footed shot from the edge – and from the choice to deploy an unprecedented offensive trident made up of Borini and Pedrola in support of the young Leonardi.

Considered choices by the former Spal coach to see all the players in the squad at work, with the clear intention of focusing attention on the upcoming delicate championship matches against Cremonese, Carrarese and Pisa. The first half, however, was too passive on the part of the Blucerchiati, who were unable to contain the outbursts of the Capitoline players, especially on the right flank, which gave rise to Roma’s three goals: Semplici then ran for cover upon returning to the changing rooms, repeating the 3 -5-2 with Depaoli and Ioannou restoring momentum and balance to the team.

The Giallorossi go into management mode, leaving more of the field to the Ligurians, who at least manage to make the deficit less burdensome by finding the 3-1 goal in the 60th minute with Yepes, who did well to wedge himself into the area by exploiting an indecision from the home defense before beating Ryan.

A flash in the pan that goes out with Ranieri’s substitutions: Soulè hits the intersection, Vismara responds brilliantly on Dovbyk and Shomurodov, as soon as he enters the pitch, takes advantage of Angelino’s cross to head home the final 4-1 goal, which qualifies Roma and brings Samp back to focus solely and exclusively on a championship that still needs to be sorted out.

The scoreboard:

ROME – SAMPDORIA 4-1

Score: 9′ Dovbyk, 18′ Dovbyk, 24′ Baldanzi, 79′ Shomurodov – 60′ Yepes

Formations

ROMA (3-4-2-1): Ryan; Celik, Ndicka, Hermoso; Saelemaekers (61′ Soulè), Pisilli (61′ Le Fee), Paredes (70′ Pellegrini), Angelino; Baldanzi, Zalewski (70′ Dahl); Dovbyk (78′ Shomurodov). Available: Svilar, Marin, Abdulhamid, Aboubacar, Dybala, El Shaarawy. Trainer: Ranieri.

SAMPDORIA (4-3-3): Vismara; Venuti, Meulensteen, Vulikic, Veroli (46′ Ioannou); Akinsanmiro (78′ Bellemo), Yepes, Vieira (61′ Benedetti); Borini, Leonardi (69′ Sekulov), Pedrola (46′ Depaoli). Available: Ghidotti, Ravaglia, Barreca, Coda, Giordano, Girelli, La Gumina, Ricci, Riccio, Tutino. Trainer: Simple.

Referee: Dionisi