New Delhi: Roma beat Sampdoria at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday night 2-0 thanks to a fine double from Julio Baptista.
Sampdoria took on Roma in the week nine catch up game. The last match for the Blucerchiati saw them register a draw against Udinese, while Roma recorded a draw against a star-studded Milan side.
Roma were keen to win this game in hand to allow themselves to climb higher up the table and reach their eventual aim of a Champions League qualifying spot, but Sampdoria were determined not to make it easy for the Giallorossi, and AntonioCassano wanted to pull one over his former side. Roma had to deal with the absence of not only Francesco Totti but their in form striker Mirko Vucinic who missed the game through suspension.
First Half
The game got underway from where it was abandoned a few months ago, in the fifth minute with Roma taking a free kick from the right wing. The game was played at a slow pace in the early stages. A few minutes after the start of the game Cassano was injured in a challenge from Daniele De Rossi and Sampdoria were dangerous straight away, penetrating into the box before the Roma defence cleared the ball. Cassano left the pitch for treatment, but soon returned.
In the 14th minute a good attacking move from the visitors ended in a thunderous strike from Cassano, but Artur saved well. Two minutes later a good cross almost from the right almost found Delvecchio, but his bicycle kick just missed the ball. Samp continued to put pressure, but it was Roma that would break the deadlock. Baptista was fouled on the edge of the area, and from the resulting free kick the big Brazilian powered in a fantastic shot that went over the wall and into the back of the net.
A minute later the ever-hungry Baptista was at it again, but his strike from inside the box was well parried by Castellazzi. Sampdoria began to grow in confidence once more, and a few useful attacks gave the home side problems. Ziegler was doing well for the Blucerchiati, but they could not find the equaliser.
Baptista was Roma’s most dangerous player, but after a close header in the 30th minute a great opportunity for a second goal was wasted two minutes later when the Brazilian striker found himself alone in front of Castellazzi, but the keeper did very well to save the shot and clear the danger.
In the 36th minute Sampdoria had a good chance to equalise when a great cross came in for Stankevicius, but the Lithuanian’s header was disappointing. Three minutes later Pizzaro was fouled a few metres outside of the box, but this time Baptista’s free kick was well saved by the Sampdoria keeper.
Roma nearly extended their lead three minutes from time when Taddei’s volley from close range almost beat Castellazzi, but the keeper denied Roma a second with a fine reaction save. A minute later Sammarco broke through the Giallorossi defence, but his finish was too rushed and the ball went agonizingly wide of the goal. After a few minor chances and two minutes of injury time, the referee blew the whistle with Roma in the lead.
Second Half
The second half began with Sampdoria trying to push forward for an early attack, but the Roma defence did well and the danger was avoided. Two minutes later Roma were on the offensive, but Taddei’s cross was cut out by Castellazzi. Cassano began to look livelier in the early part of the second half, but his touches on the ball was greeted by jeers and boos from the Roma crowd.
In the 53rd minute Baptista twisted and turned well in the Sampdoria box, showing fantastic skill, before finding the smallest gap in which to blast the ball past Castellazzi, making it 2-0 for the home side. The second goal handed control to the Giallorossi, who were well on their way to securing yet another three point haul at home.
Sampdoria were struggling to get forward, with only the odd counter attack allowing them to have a sniff of the opposition goal line. In the 62nd minute Roma applied more pressure and a long ball and header across goal from Panucci almost found a Giallorossi team mate, before being rushed away from the Samp goal. Sampdoria responded by pushing forward through their captain Cassano, but their attacks were sporadic and lacking in creativity.
In the 66th minute Cicinho did well down the right wing for the home side, but his cross was caught by Castellazzi. Roma kept possession well and passed the ball into space, forcing Sampdoria to do all of the running. Three minutes later Perrotta put the Samp defence under pressure and a back pass needed to be cleared quickly to avoid another Roma goal.
In the 73rd minute Baptista, on a hat-trick, attempted to bulge the net yet again, but his strike from the edge of the area went just high of the crossbar. A few minutes later yet another foul on the edge of the area allowed De Rossi to crack a free kick at goal, but the ever-present Castellazzi parried the ball away from his goal.
Ten minutes from time Dessena almost gave the visitors some hope, but his header off a cross from the right was a desperate chance and nothing came of it. With a few minutes left Baptista had yet another shot, which was blocked before Panucci's strike went over the target. Roma began to relax and they allowed the Blucerchiati more possession and space, but it was too late at that point, and after a five final minutes of added time in which Menes almost got away with yet another goal for the Giallorossi, Roma ended the game with a 2-0 win and all three points from the encounter.
ROMA 2–0 SAMPDORIA
GOALS: Baptista 21’ 53’ (Roma)
Roma: Artur, Cicinho (Cassetti 85'), Panucci, Juan, Riise, Taddei (Aquilani 72’), De Rossi, Brighi, Perrotta, Pizarro, Julio Baptista (Menes 89').
Sampdoria: Castellazzi, Lucchini, Gastaldello (Padalino 64’), Accardi, Stankevicious, Delvecchio, Dessena, Sammarco (Palombo 60’), Ziegler (Pieri 70’), Bellucci, Cassano.
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