New Delhi: Antonio Cassano and Giampaolo Pazzini combined to silence Inter Milan and fire Sampdoria towards the Coppa Italia final. The home side finished the game with 10 men, but they take a healthy lead back with them to San Siro next month.
Sampdoria have one foot in the Coppa Italia final after blasting a less than perfect Inter at the Marassi. An inspirational Antonio Cassano led the charge as he gave the Nerazzurri a lesson in total football. Jose Mourinho has his work cut out if the team are to overturn this shocking result for the second leg in April.
First Half
Inter got the game underway at the Marassi and it was Amantino Mancini who fired an early warning shot. The former Roma man came into the side after Jose Mourinho rested several players and he had a point to prove to his coach. Mancini was fed perfectly by a delightful pass from Sulley Muntari. Although the Brazilian showed great finesse in bringing the ball down, his finish was wide of the mark.
There was early concern for Adriano after he suffered a knock following a challenge with Daniele Gastaldello. However, he was able to carry on. It didn't take Sampdoria long to take a lead. Inter had started well, but some shocking defending gifted Antonio Cassano the easiest goal he will ever score this season.
What should have been a routine clearance under no pressure turned out to be a black and blue nightmare for Nelson Rivas. The stopper, who has looked shaky this season, lost his focus and allowed Cassano to steal the ball off him on the edge of the penalty area. The Italian took full advantage and chipped a stranded Francesco Toldo to give his side the lead.
During his pre-match press conference Mourinho said his side would take this game seriously, but at times the football on show from the Nerazzurri seemed like Sunday league. There was no spark or creativity from Inter while down at the other end Cassano kept his side's fighting spirit up as he orchestrated proceedings on the turf.
When chances were at a premium, Marco Materazzi and Giampaolo Pazzini kept the brave crowd entertained as their tit-for-tat personal battles heated up, leading the referee to warn the Italian duo rather than book them. The Nerazzurri just couldn't find a way through a Blucerchiati side set up to frustrate them. Mourinho's 3-4-3 set up was failing against a Doria midfield which was packed with five players to ensure the opposition were kept at bay.
Walter Mazzarri's tactics were working and Pazzini finally got the better of the Inter defence as he doubled his side's money with a well taken header. Again, it was Rivas who was at the centre of his side's downfall, as he failed to pick up the Italian. Palombo's corner was whipped in dangerously and while Rivas, Cordoba and Materazzi were sleeping, the former Fiorentina man used his head in every sense to put further doubts on the Nerazzurri's hopes of Coppa Italia glory.
The tie was turning into an embarrassment for Inter. Pazzini grabbed his second of the night to put more misery on the visitors. Cassano was outstanding and it was his run which left Rivas dazzled, and his cross into the box provided the chance. Marco Padalino was first to the ball but his finish was parried by Toldo. However the Italian 'Keeper couldn't do nothing to stop Pazzini from digging the knife even further.
Second Half
Mourinho took off the less than perfect Rivas and replaced him with the stronger and more determined Douglas Maicon to steady the backline. Inter tried to react but the midfielders failed to support the front men. Balotelli aimed to find Adriano with a disguised cross into the box but the Brazilian, who seemed lost without the company of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, completely mis-timed his run and the move fizzled out.
After an hour of play, Adriano finally got a shot off, but, like the weather, his effort was miserable. Samp seemed to step off the pedal and Inter grew in stature. Gastaldello pressed the self-destruct button as his second crazy challenge saw him sent off and this put even further strain on the home team. There was some concern for Balotelli after the Italian was involved in a freak accident. The youngster jumped in for a header but smashed his torso against the post. He fell to the floor minutes later and was carried off as his game ended early.
The Nerazzurri created a flurry of chances as the rain made for a high tempo game. Samp were struggling with 10 men, but Mourinho's side just couldn't take advantage. The home side had Luca Castellazzi to thank in the second half as he made some world-class saves to deny the Nerazzurri from taking a goal back to San Siro.
Teams
Sampdoria 3-5-2: Castellazzi, Campagnaro (Da Costa), Gastaldelo, Raggi, Padalino, Sammarco, Palombo, Francheschini, Pieri, Pazzini (Stankevicius), Cassano (Bellucci).
Inter 3-4-3: Toldo, Cordoba, Materazzi, Rivas(Maicon), Zanetti, Vieira, Muntari, Maxwell (Crespo), Mancini, Adriano, Balotelli(Obinna).
Goals: Cassano, Pazzini x 2
Cards: Gastaldello, Balotelli, Cordoba, Zanetti, Materazzi.
Sent Off: Gastaldello
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