Hoping to register only their second victory in 13 top-flight encounters, the hosts began their footballing expedition invigorated, manufacturing the first goalscoring opportunity of the contest when Darko Lazović forced Emil Audero into a sublime acrobatic save. In contrast, the visitors sought their fifth victory from their last six H2H encounters and were not without their chances in an enthralling end-to-end opening quarter-hour. After holding Juventus and S.S. Lazio to creditable stalemates this season, Sampdoria’s confidence grew as the first half progressed.
Enduring the longest-ever losing home run since the club's inception in 1903 - following five successive competitive defeats - the last thing Gabriele Cioffi wanted was Caputo giving the Blucerchiati the lead in the 40th minute with a stunning curling strike that flew past a helpless Lorenzo Montipò. However, the visitors were dealt two hammer blows during a ruthless four-minute goalscoring spell. First, Thomas Henry’s header hit the crossbar, before ricocheting off Audero to end up in the net. With the momentum in their favour, Josh Doig then sent the home support into ecstatic celebrations, clinically directing the ball between two retreating defenders on the goal line after Kevin Lasagna had gotten to the ball before Audero.
See stats from the match at Flashscore
In search of their first league win of the season, the Gialloblu should have wrapped all three points up in the 56th minute, but Lasagna somehow shot wide with an open goal at his feet. With the game approaching its conclusion, Marco Giampaolo rolled the substitutional dice, introducing a double alteration into the fray to rejuvenate his attacking options. However, the visitors’ substitutions proved futile, as Cioffi’s side were unlucky not to add to their tally before the full-time whistle.
Victory for the hosts ends Marco Giampaolo's unbeaten streak against Verona, as Sampdoria remain festering in the relegation zone after failing to register a much-needed victory in their opening five league matches.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Thomas Henry (Hellas Verona)
