| |
 |  |
|
| Coppa: Samp humiliate Inter |
Wednesday 4 March, 2009 |
|
Sampdoria have a foot in the Coppa Italia Final after thrashing Inter 3-0 despite playing with 10 men for the final half-hour. Antonio Cassano and a Giampaolo Pazzini brace dominated the error-prone Nerazzurri.
Jose Mourinho rested several stars for the trip to Genoa and experimented with a three-man defence, while Amantino Mancini, Patrick Vieira and Nelson Rivas made their comebacks. Vittorio Russo was on the Samp bench because Walter Mazzarri and defender Stefano Lucchini sat out bans.
Mancini hit the side-netting from a difficult position, but Sampdoria took a surprise lead. Rivas didn't do himself any favours after his Manchester United performance, as he was foolishly dispossessed by Cassano on the edge of the box and the chip beat Francesco Toldo. Cassano clattered into Toldo during the move and hurt his ribs when landing awkwardly, but was able to continue after treatment.
It was a fine start for the Blucerchiati, who have not beaten Inter since 1999. Sulley Ali Muntari also gave the ball away under pressure, but this time Angelo Palombo just failed to get on the end of Cassano's cutback.
Daniele Gastaldello was booked for a sliding tackle on Muntari and will be suspended for the second leg. Cassano's cross-shot was flapped away by Toldo, but Andrea Raggi flicked on the corner for Pazzini to nod in from four yards and double Sampdoria's lead. Once again Rivas was at fault, as he left the striker completely unmarked for his sixth goal in consecutive matches.
Luca Castellazzi made his first save on the half-hour mark, tipping a Mancini daisy-cutter round the base of the near post and Balotelli's solo effort was central. Rivas escaped a yellow card for bringing down Palombo, but Samp made it 3-0 before the break.
The Inter defence was torn to shreds and even Mourinho smiled bitterly from the bench at this comical display. Cassano's through ball to the back post found Padalino and a tricky Toldo save, but Javier Zanetti cleared straight at Pazzini to tap into the empty net.
Pazzini sprung the offside trap to go one-on-one with Toldo, who did just enough to put it out for a corner. Understandably, Mourinho made changes with Douglas Maicon replacing the dismal Rivas. They were more attacking, but Samp were dangerous on the break with Maxwell intercepting Cassano's through ball for the unmarked Padalino.
Cordoba was booked for a reaction shove on Pazzini following dangerous play from the striker and Balotelli also went into the book for a late tackle. Inter had a way back into the game when Gastaldello hacked down Balotelli for an inevitable second yellow card, leaving Sampdoria with 10 men for the final half-hour.
Hernan Crespo replaced Maxwell days after his crucial substitute's role in the 3-3 with Roma. Balotelli crashed into the upright chest first when trying to head the ball and seemed fine, even laughing, but a few moments later he collapsed to the ground. The 18-year-old was stretchered off among worried faces, making way for Victor Obinna. News later filtered through that he recovered, although he will require X-Rays.
The substitute came close to a goal when a corner fell to him and he nutmegged Padalino, but Castellazzi palmed it out from point-blank range. Marco Materazzi knocked down the corner for Crespo's touch that was straight at the goalkeeper.
A fantastic one-handed Castellazzi save prodded Crespo's header off the line, then the goalkeeper managed a stunning double-parry on Adriano's turn and the Crespo follow-up. Castellazzi let a thunderbolt from Muntari slip through his grasp, but scrambled to get the loose ball back in his hands before Adriano could pounce.
The tension got to Inter in the final minutes, as Materazzi and Javier Zanetti were booked for dissent and a late tackle from behind on Padalino that risked a red for the captain.
The second leg is at San Siro on April 21 and Inter need to win 3-0 just to force extra time.
Sampdoria 3-0 Inter
Scorers: Cassano 8 (S), Pazzini 29, 41 (S)
Sent off: Gastaldello 60 (S)
Sampdoria: Castellazzi; Campagnaro (Da Costa 74), Gastaldello, Raggi; Padalino, Sammarco, Palombo, Franceschini, Pieri; Pazzini (Stankevicius 65), Cassano (Bellucci 85)
Inter: Toldo; Cordoba, Materazzi, Rivas (Maicon 46); Zanetti, Vieira, Muntari, Maxwell (Crespo 61); Mancini, Adriano, Balotelli (Obinna 65)
Ref: Saccani
|
|
|
Mou, De Rossi and Mario face music
Jose Mourinho, Mario Balotelli and Daniele De Rossi are deferred to the Disciplinary Commission after the Inter-Roma row. More
Garrone hopes for Inter shock
Sampdoria President Riccardo Garrone hopes his men can complete a Milan double by humbling Inter this evening. More
|
|
| |
| |
