Sampdoria beat Inter Milan 3-0 in the Italian Cup semi-final first-leg at Marassi on Wednesday.

An Antonio Cassano opener on nine minutes and a brace from Giampaolo Pazzini in the 30th and 42nd minutes handed Samp the three-goal advantage ahead of the second-leg.

Inter coach Jose Mourinho, who fielded a fringe side, was punished for his selection when Cassano robbed Nelson Rivas on the left before chipping past Francesco Toldo.

Pazzini headed Sampdoria's second and the former Fiorentina striker added a third following a poor clearance from the Nerazzuri defence.

Despite Sampdoria's reduction to ten men following the Danielle Gostadello's dismissal, Inter couldn’t create any real chances to end the game with the big defeat.