Cremonese beat Sampdoria 2:0 in the Round of 64 of the Coppa Italia on Sunday evening at their home ground. The hosts saw off a side that had won two of their last three competitive matches, including a 2:0 victory over Parma on the 9th of August. The result sends Cremonese through to the next stage while Sampdoria's cup campaign comes to an end.
The opening goal arrived in the 23rd minute when D. Stuckler finished off a move that had pinned Sampdoria back for much of the opening spell. It was a well-worked finish, and the home side went on to control the tempo. By then the visitors had already missed a late chance, but the damage was not yet done.
The second half brought a yellow card for J. Vandeputte in the 52nd minute, followed by a flurry of changes from both benches. Sampdoria brought on T. Lauritsen and G. Forte in the 61st minute, while Cremonese responded with three substitutions of their own in the 62nd. More yellow cards followed: F. Gerli and L. Henderson both went into the referee's book in successive minutes.
There was a moment of drama in the 77th minute when S. Esposito stepped up for a penalty but missed, and Sampdoria were then reduced to ten men after G. Pezzella's second booking in the 71st minute. The visitors had worked a short corner earlier but could not turn the advantage into a breakthrough. Cremonese closed the game out with further changes, bringing on S. Pontisso and M. Collocolo in the 82nd minute.
The second goal came in stoppage time when T. Berti tapped in, and the final whistle confirmed a comfortable home victory. Sampdoria had thrown bodies forward but rarely reached the penalty area in dangerous numbers. The hosts played with a calmness that suggested they fancy their chances in the next round.
The statistics tell a story of controlled dominance. Cremonese held 51 per cent possession and registered 76 attacks compared to Sampdoria's 91, but their expected goals of 0.66 came from fewer, sharper opportunities. Both sides created two big chances, though only one was converted. Shots accuracy sat at 43 per cent for the hosts and 50 per cent for the visitors, yet the difference in delivery proved decisive.
The result leaves Cremonese with momentum heading into the next phase, while Sampdoria must now refocus on league duties. The goal difference for this tie stands at two, and the visitors will need to find a way to break down a side that gave nothing away when it mattered most.