Ten-man Roma hold Sampdoria at Marassi

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Giampaolo Pazzini's brace was cancelled by Julio Baptista.

New Delhi: Giampaolo Pazzini's impressive form for Sampdoria continued as the striker hit a brace against Roma, but it wasn't enough as Julio Baptista scored two goals of his own, one of which from a controversial penalty.

Struggling Sampdoria hosted a Roma side bent on revenge following their penalty shoot-out defeat to Arsenal in the Champions League. Roma coach Luciano Spalletti played with a 3-4-2-1 formation with Julio Baptista and Jeremy Menez behind Mirko Vucinic in attack, while Samp boss Walter Mazzarri played with a 3-5-2 line-up with Giampaolo Pazzini and Antonio Cassano up front.

First Half

The home side immediately had a big chance to go in front, as Marius Stankevicius received the ball on the right side of the area, turned around and fired a left-footed shot that hit the outside of the post.

However, it was Roma who took the lead on their first chance in the 7th minute, when Max Tonetto played in a sharp cross from the left which Vucinic couldn’t reach, but Baptista was on hand to slot the ball in at the far post.

Samp nearly found an immediate equaliser four minutes later, Pazzini heading the ball in from a dangerous position on a good cross by Paolo Sammarco, but goalkeeper Alexandre Doni came up with a great reflex to keep it out.

The former Fiorentina did find the net in the 26th minute, heading in a cross from Cassano after ‘Peter Pan’ had controlled the ball on the left side of the area.

The Pazzini-Cassano combination caused trouble again six minutes later, as Cassano dribbled his way inside the area and sent in a perfect ball for Pazzini, who would have been alone in front of goal were it not for Marco Motta’s well-timed clearence.

"Il Pazzo" did get his second goal and brought the home side in front in the 43rd minute, when he tapped the ball in from close range after Doni failed to hold on to a cross-shot by Marco Padalino, who had come in to replace the injured Stankevicius.

The first half thus finished with Sampdoria on a 2-1 lead thanks to a brace by Pazzini, after Baptista had given Roma a 1-0 lead early on.

Second Half

No changes were made by either coach during half time. Roma showed more determination in the second half as they went in search of an equaliser.

Their first chance came in the 56th minute, as Baptista won the ball near the area and played it in for Menez, who was in a good position to try a shot but goalkeeper Luca Castellazzi came out and grabbed the ball.

A minute later Motta came close for Roma with a terrific volley from the edge of the area that went just wide. The full back nearly became the hero for the Giallorossi, but he quickly turned into the villain as in the 62nd minute he left his side behind with 10 men when he was handed a second yellow card for a foul on Mirko Pieri.

Despite this setback, the visitors managed to equalise under dubious circumstances in the 69th minute, when the referee gave a soft penalty after Padalino allegedly held back Tonetto in the area. Baptista stepped up to take the spot-kick, and hit it powerfully past Castellazzi to make it 2-2.

The referee also went on to send off Samp coach Walter Mazzarri for protesting.

From that moment on Sampdoria attacked relentlessly against the ten men of Roma to find the winning goal. In the 81st minute, Doni was called into action again, and he did very well to keep out a close range header by Pazzini, who nearly grabbed his hat-trick.

The Brazilian keeper saved his side again two minutes before full time, when he deflected a dangerous low drive by Sammarco out for a corner.

That was the last chance of an entertaining an eventful match where both sides ultimately had to make do with a share of the spoils. The result leaves Roma in sixth place with 46 points, while Sampdoria are 14th with 33 points.

Teams

Sampdoria (3-5-2): Castellazzi; Campagnaro, Lucchini, Raggi; Stankevicius (29’ Padalino), Sammarco, Palombo, Franceschini (37’ Bellucci), Pieri; Pazzini, Cassano. Coach: Mazzarri.

Roma (3-4-2-1): Doni; Diamoutene, Panucci, Riise; Motta, Brighi, Pizarro, Tonetto; Baptista, Menez (78’ Crescenzi); Vucinic (91’ Montella). Coach: Spalletti.

Goals: 7’ Baptista (R), 25’, 43’ Pazzini (S), 70’ Baptista pen. (R)

Booked: Palombo, Paladino, Lucchini (S); Diamoutene, Motta, Pizarro (R)

Sent off: Motta (R) 62’