It took only 19 minutes for Ernesto Torregrossa to steal Sampdoria’s hearts as he scored a key goal in his debut match to help the Blucerchiati come from behind and stun Udinese in Serie A Round 18.
The Bianconeri had opened the scoring with Rodrigo De Paul after 55 minutes, but saw their lead canceled when Antonio Candreva buried the spot after being fouled in the box by Rolando Mandragora. Then, the former Brescia man – who has just joined Sampdoria on loan – set the score at 2-1 with a brilliant header.
Udinese have collected only three points out of their last seven games. Coach Gotti’s roster continued to be plagued by injuries – the most recent one, occurred to Ignagio Pussetto, will keep the Argentine out for at least six months – but could have done something more tonight as they wasted several chances in the first half when the deadlock was not broken yet.
Given the absences among his front line options, Luca Gotti lined up only one striker in Kevin Lasagna, supported from the back by Roberto Pereyra. For Sampdoria, Claudio Ranieri mirrored his colleague’s choices with Valerio Verre deployed behind Fabio Quagliarella in a 4-1-1. Torregrossa started from the bench.
If this was a boxing match, Udinese would have won the first half by unanimous decision. The Friulani had at least three chances to trouble the scorers before referee Juan Luca Sacchi blew for half time.
First, Rodrigo De Paul produced himself in a stunning acceleration before serving a golden cross for Kevin Lasagna, but the striker failed to connect with the ball. Then, on 28 minutes, Rolando Mandragora shot from close range after defender Maya Yoshida pushed back Lasagna’s shot, but found Emil Audero on his way. De Paul tried to take the matter into his own hands just before half time, but his effort hit the crossbar.
The second half was even more entertaining. On 55 minutes, De Paul finally managed to open the scoring, but it took him three shooting attempts in a row before he would put the ball in the back of the net.
Claudio Ranieri then changed his both offensive options, sending in Ernesto Torregrossa and Keita Balde for Quagliarella and Verre. The move would bear fruit later on in the game but, before that, it was up to Antonio Candreva to re-balance the score with a penalty – which he both gained and converted with a Panenka.
When there were just 10 minutes to go, Torregrossa jumped higher than his marker Marvin Zeegelaar to convert a Tommaso Augello cross a wrap a fundamental victory for Ranieri’s band – which takes Sampdoria to the 10th place in the table. Before full time, Keita went close to make it three but was denied by Juan Musso and the score remained set at 2-1.
MATCH REPORT
January 16, 2021 – Serie A 2020-21 Round 18
SAMPDORIA-UDINESE 2-1
SCORERS: 55′ De Paul (U), 66′ Candreva (S, pen.), 80′ Torregrossa (S)
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SAMPDORIA (4-4-1-1): Audero; Bereszynski, Yoshida, Colley, Augello; Candreva, Silva (74′ Ramirez), Ekdal (85′ Askildsen), Damsgaard (63′ Thorsby); Verre (63′ Keita); Quagliarella (63′ Torregrossa) (Ravaglia, Letica, Rocha, Regini, La Gumina, Leris, Prelec) Coach: Ranieri |
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UDINESE (3-5-1-1): Musso; Becao, Bonifazi, Samir; Stryger Larsen (85′ Molina), De Paul, Walace (85′ Nestorovski), Mandragora (78′ Arslan), Zeegelaar (88′ Ouwejan); Pereyra; Lasagna (Scuffet, Gasparini, Makengo, Deulofeu, De Maio) Coach: Gotti |
REFEREE: Mr. Sacchi from Macerata
NOTES: Yellow Cards: Zeegelaar (U), Askildsen (S)