Sampdoria 1 - Juventus 2
Sunday 11th November 2001
Juventus survived a late surge from ten-man Sampdoria on Sunday night to take a useful advantage into the second leg of this Coppa Italia tie. Marcelo Zalayeta and a Mirko Conte own goal proved decisive, while Francesco Flachi was on target for the Genoese.
The last 25 minutes were mostly played in and around the Juventus area and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon made a remarkable double save from Gaetano Vasari to preserve the visitors' lead.
Samp's final flurry was all the more extraordinary as they played the final minutes without Flachi, who was red-carded for swearing at a linesman.
The striker had earlier pulled a goal back with a wonderful header from Davide Possanzini's cross after Juventus had done much as they liked in the first half.
Zalayeta leapt high to convert a Gianluca Pessotto cross from the left for their opening goal and the young Uruguayan, only back in Turin last week after a spell with Penarol in his homeland, almost added a second when he hit the post in 34 minutes.
Juve scored their second goal on 42 minutes when Conte diverted the ball past his own goalkeeper as he tried to stop it reaching Zalayeta from an Alessandro Del Piero pass.
Del Piero had a fine match behind the forwards - Zalayeta and Nicola Amoruso - and showed no fatigue after travelling with Italy to and from the midweek friendly in Japan.
Sampdoria: Mondini, Stendardo, Grandoni, Conte, Bonomi (Vasari 45), Sanna, Marcolin, Tricarico (Jovicic 65), Traversa, Esposito (Flachi 51), Possanzini
Juventus: Buffon, Birindelli, Iuliano, Paramatti, Zenoni, Zambrotta, Tacchinardi, Pessotto, Del Piero, Amoroso (Pericard 90), Zalayeta (Rondinella 73)
Sent off: Flachi (Samp)
Referee: Marco Gabriele (Frosinone)
