Sampdoria’s three-match winning streak came to an end after Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Torino but they remain unbeaten in five after earning a plucky draw away at Zdenek Zeman’s Roma in their midweek fixture.
Ciro Ferrara felt rightfully aggrieved following Sunday’s deadlock with the Granata: “Considering all that we created, I’d say we deserved more from this, but we accept the draw against an important side.”
The Blucerchiati largely dominated the first-half and several good chances were spurned, including tame efforts from top scorer Maxi Lopez. Midfielder Enzo Maresca also hit the bar with a free-kick, Lopez was on hand but correctly had his goal disallowed for offside.
The men in blue were made to rue these misses in the second-half as Rolando Bianchi dispatched his penalty after a stupid foul by Roberto Soriano. Soriano nearly made amends as his cross-come-shot grazed the bar, but it was not to be for the 21- year-old.
Substitute Eder almost won it in style but Torino goalkeeper Jean-Francois Gillet made a great save to cap a fine performance. Lopez was not a happy man after the final whistle and reportedly kicked the referee’s door as well as insulting him and other officials. This outburst earned the Argentine a two match ban, something which he rightfully chose to issue a public apology for. His attempts to get the ban rescinded were rejected.
Wednesday’s game in the capital had some added spice to it thanks to a war of words between managers Zeman and Ferrara. Ferrara spent 11 years at Juventus as a player, winning six Scudetto’s and making over 300 appearances. During his spell with La Vecchia Signora, Czechoslovakian Zeman continuously criticised and accused Juventus of various acts of cheating.
In 1998, Zeman openly questioned the physical strength of the Juventus squad, implying doping was involved. This led to a trial headed by Turin anti-doping prosecutor Raffaele Guariniello.
Six years later, Juventus physio Riccardo Agricola was convicted of administering banned substances, including the hormone EPO, to Juventus players from 1994-98, and was handed a suspended sentence of 22 months. A year later, Agricola was cleared after a successful appeal. This was one of many attacks on Juventus by Zeman, something Ferrara clearly has not forgiven him for. Unsurprsingly, neither opted to shake one another’s hand pre-match.
Back to the game and it was one that Roma really should have won. Francesco Totti put the Giallorossi ahead on the eve of his 36th birthday, and Sampdoria were lucky to go in at the break just a goal down, Eder was the only real threat for La Samp during the first period. Maresca didn’t help his teams cause by getting sent off very early in the second-half for two bookable offences.
But just after the hour mark a shocking error from Holland international Maarten Stekelenburg gifted Sampdoria an equaliser, Gianni Munari tapped in after the Roma keeper inexplicably fumbled an easy cross. Roma dominated proceedings until the end and had it not been for some outstanding goalkeeping from Sergio Romero, Sampdoria would surely have tasted defeat for the first time this season.
Nicola Pozzi went off injured in this game leaving Ferrara with a striking crisis ahead of Sunday’s game against high-flying Napoli. With Lopez suspended and Pozzi potentially out, it leaves Ferrara with little to work with at the top of the park. Heading into round 6, Sampdoria are sitting pretty in third, how long can this run go on for? My pre-season prediction of 16th is looking poorer and poorer with each week that passes.
