ROMA starting XI (3-4-2-1): Ryan, Celik, Ndicka, Hermoso, Zalewski (subbed for Dahl), Pisilli (subbed for Le Fee), Paredes (subbed for Pellegrini), Angelino, Saelemaekers (subbed for Soule’), Baldanzi, Dovbyk (subbed for Shomurodov)
Bench: Abdulhamid, Sangaré, Dybala, El Shaarawy, Marin, Svilar
Goals: Dovbyk 9’ 19’, Baldanzi 24’,
SAMPDORIA starting XI (4-3-3): Vismara, Venuti, Meulensteen, Vulikic, Veroli (subbed for Ioannou), Vieira (subbed for Benedetti), Yepes, Akinsanmiro (subbed for Bellemo),
Borini, Leonardi (subbed for Sekulov), Pedrola (subbed for Depaoli)
Bench: Barreca, Coda, Ghidotti, Giordano, Girelli, La Gumina, Ravaglia, Ricci, Riccio, Tutino
Goals: Yepes 61’
The 32-year-old joined on a free transfer during the off-season from AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands, but due to lack of game time has lost his starting spot between the sticks at international level to Aston Villa’s No.2 Joe Gauci.
Roma coach Claudio Ranieri steered his side to a morale-boosting victory over one of his many former clubs and avoided a potential upset against the Serie B team, who had already knocked out two Serie A opponents.
Roma lost 2-0 last time out in the league at Como — one of the top-flight teams Sampdoria had beaten on their cup run — the other being city rivals Genoa.
However, an early double from Artem Dovbyk and a delightful solo effort from Tommaso Baldanzi had Roma 3-0 up inside 25 minutes.
Gerard Yepes pulled one back for the visitors in the 61st but Roma restored their three-goal advantage through substitute Eldor Shomurodov to secure a last-eight match against AC Milan.
AAP
