Samp pass their first English test with flying colours

The first English test is in the books, and Sampdoria came through with top marks. Doria can thank a beauty of a goal by Ramirez on the 80^th minute for their win over hosts Fulham, newly promoted and set for their Premier League debut in ten days time.

With Luca Vialli in the stands making sure not to miss the occasion to be once again reunited with his great love from the stands of the EBB Stadium in Aldershot, the Blucerchiati put in a good shift,, maintaining a high physical, tactical and mental standard. A well-deserved win over their opposition was the result.

Team captain Fabio Quagliarella pulled up in the warm-ups before the match after feeling a muscular twinge: Ramirez took his place and Caprari pushed up to join Kownacki. Barreto, playmaker for the day, was the man to take the captain’s armband.

Over the course of a few seconds a header by Colley from a Ramirez delivery on the 12^th minute replied to the first attempt of the encounter: a turning right-footer by Cisse which sailed over the bar on the 10^th. Cisse came close again on the 22^nd but still couldn’t quite find the target.

Doria did well playing the ball up from defence, but the Cottagers found more joy in exploiting the space for chances: Schurrle let one go on the 23^rd minute, his shot going past Audero and striking the billboards.

Samp stayed high up the pitch, pressing and keeping up with the rhythm of their English opposition. On the 28^th minute Murru called Fabri into action with a cross from the left, while on the half-hour Sala picked out Caprari’s deep run, the chance going begging as the striker’s touch let him down.

Caprari came close again on the 39^th minute, hitting a right-footer which went just wide of the Fulham post. Nothing to be done: the sides hit the changing rooms all square.

Colley came out of the gates quickly in the second half, trying in vain to break open the Cottager defence from a Ramirez corner. In the traditional merry-go-round of summer subs the Samp lads never really came close to conceding.

Jankto, on the other hand, tried his luck with a header on the 60^th minute, coming close to hitting the target. In the end it fell to Ramirez to strike a fantastic left-footer and give Samp the lead on the 80^th minute. The wondrous strike was enough to award Samp the spoils, another scalp as they continue to step up their pre-season preparations.

Fulham 0-1 Sampdoria
Scorers: Ramirez 80
Fulham (4-3-3): Fabri; Fossey (Christie 74), Odoi, Le Marchand (Ream 60), S. Sessegnon (R. Sessegnon 74); Cairey (Johansen 46), McDonald (Kebano 60), Cisse; De la Torre (Kamara 74), Fonte (Mitrovic 60), Schürrle (Seri 60).
Subs not used: Ashby-Hammond.
Coach: Jokanovic.

Sampdoria (4-3-1-2): Audero (Belec 72); Sala (Bereszynski 72), Andersen (Leverbe 88), Colley (Ferrari 63), Murru (Tavares 72); Praet, Barreto (Linetty 63), Jankto (Verre 78); Ramirez (Rolando 88); Caprari (Defrel 63), Kownacki (Stijepovic 78).
Subs not used: Rafael, Vieira, Quagliarella.
Coach: Giampaolo.

Referee: Scott (ENG).
Assistants: Betts (ENG) and Eaton (ENG).
Fourth Official: Probert (ENG).
Booked: Jankto 33
Added time: 0 + 0 minutes.
Attendance: approx. 4,000.