Soccer Blog Video

Striker Antonio Cassano was crucial to everything Sampdoria did in attack, raising further questions over Italy coach Marcello Lippi's inability to find a place for him in the national squad.

Cassano floated a cross in from the right for Pazzini to score his sixth goal of the season in the seventh minute.

Pazzini played with a protective face mask after breaking his nose in a collision with Lazio goalkeeper Fernando Mulsera last week.

Pazzini then flicked on Cassano's cross for Mannini to volley home Sampdoria's second in the 16th. Ten minutes later, Ziegler turned Bologna's Nicola Mudingayi and fired past goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano from long range.

Mannini headed home the fourth goal in the 33rd from another cross by Cassano.

Bologna scored when Daniele Portanova's header hit the crossbar from a free kick, and Osvaldo reached the rebound first to beat goalkeeper Luca Castellazzi in the 62nd.

"It was a great first half and we controlled the game for 30 to 40 minutes,'' Mannini said.

"It is a reward for all the hard work we have been doing. We're playing attractive football, we're scoring goals and we're enjoying the season. We should be happy with our performance tonight."

Source:english.aljazeera.net