I was unable to watch the match and based on the comments from friend who watched it and based on paper report, I think I did not miss too much this time. Nevertheless, I am posting the match report from Channel4.
Both teams passed their European tests midweek with flying colours, as Lazio entered the Champions League and Samp got through to the UEFA Cup. In strictly Serie A terms, it was the Blucerchiati who had the advantage, having won 2-1 at Siena rather than the Romans’ disappointing 2-2 draw to Torino. Doria had Antonio Cassano in the side for the first time since his summer move, but he sat on the bench with Vincenzo Montella.
Lazio’s injury crisis ruled out Diakhite’, Aleksander Kolarov, Sebastiano Siviglia, Guglielmo Stendardo, Simone Del Nero and Stefano Mauri. Always an entertaining fixture, this tie has not ended in a draw since the spectacular 3-3 on April 21, 1996.
Andrea Caracciolo wasted a good chance after five minutes, his shot flashing across the face of goal. At the other end, Massimo Mutarelli nodded a Cristian Ledesma set-piece over the bar.
Ledesma tested Antonio Mirante from almost 30 metres, but Tommaso Rocchi was far more dangerous as he used his strength to hold off a defender and the right-foot strike was palmed out of the top corner.
Sergio Volpi’s low free kick for Samp pierced the wall, but none of his teammates could get the final touch.
Christian Manfredini created a wonderful opportunity by dribbling between two defenders, but when he was clear on goal incredibly ballooned wide. Goran Pandev also wasted a promising counter-attack.
The best chance of the game so far arrived on 40 minutes, as Claudio Bellucci’s looping header from a Reto Ziegler pass was spectacularly fingertipped out from under the crossbar by 43-year-old goalkeeper Marco Ballotta.
After the break Ballotta was fortunate not to concede. He did not come out to grab a corner kick, so a goalline clearance was needed to deny Caracciolo.
The deadlock remained in place, so Walter Mazzarri introduced fan favourite Montella for Caracciolo. Delio Rossi surprisingly took off Rocchi for the pacey Stephen Ayodele Makinwa.
Mirante blocked a Gaby Mudingayi daisy-cutter in front of the line. Mourad Meghni wanted a penalty less than a minute after coming on, but the referee correctly waved play on.
Ledesma sent a screamer just past the near post from distance, but there was a real scare for the Biancocelesti.
Ballotta spilled a powerful Bellucci snapshot and Luciano Zauri was there for the clearance as Montella prepared to pounce.
Sampdoria were left with 10 men for the final eight minutes, as Ziegler got a second booking for a foul on Mutarelli. This put paid to hopes of seeing Cassano make his debut.
Still, the home side should have won it at the death. Montella’s dummy left Paolo Sammarco totally unmarked with only the goalkeeper to beat, but astonishingly he chipped it over the bar of an open goal!
Valon Behrami got a scare in stoppages, as the referee flashed red for the challenge on Mirko Pieri, but he apologised immediately as he had taken out the wrong card!
