Sampdoria 1-0 Parma: Icardi wins tight game

Sampdoria beat Parma 1-0 at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris in Serie A on Sunday afternoon.

A sole second half goal from Mauro Icardi was enough for the Blucerchiati to take the win.

The first half passed with both sides creating one great chance each, but it was a mostly even affair with the players struggling for space on the tight Luigi Ferraris pitch.

Sampdoria first tested Antonio Mirante by accident, when an Eder cross turned into a shot at the near post, requiring a tip over the bar after ten minutes, just after Jonathan Biabiany’s header was blocked in the box.

The first great chance came to the Frenchman just short of 25 minutes in, when he was set through by Marco Marchionni, only to chip his shot over the bar under pressure.

Right on the stroke of half-time came Sampdoria’s chance of the half, when Andrea Poli’s cross came out to Eder, who was unmarked deep in the box. He couldn’t quite make the right contact on the ball, which was swept up by a grateful Mirante.

Sampdoria had another good chance shortly after the restart when a corner fell to Andrea Costa, though he couldn’t control the ball properly and it was hooked away.

The game’s only goal game just short of the hour, when Icardi beat Mirante to Marcelo Estigarribia’s free-kick, heading in for 1-0.

The game’s closing moments inevitably involved Parma pushing for an equaliser, though they couldn’t break the disciplined home side down. Icardi could have killed the game with just over ten minutes remaining, though his shot was saved well by Mirante. Fortunately for Samp, it didn’t matter.