An under-fire Walter Zenga had it all to do after his Sampdoria side were humiliated by Serbian side Vojdvodina in the first leg on home soil.
With Samp club President Massimo Ferrero defending his manager in the days leading up to the game, one couldn't help but think this second leg was a huge tone-setter for the club.
Sampdoria started the brighter side
The situation would have been very clear to the players, and it was Eder who provided the breakthrough in the 15th minute of play. A lovely lay-off from Luis Muriel was met by a cool finish across the 'keeper into the bottom right, and Sampdoria had that vital early goal.
The hosts then managed to shore up the defence from the inevitable onslaught, and opportunities were few and far between.
However, Sampdoria should have doubled their lead eight minutes before the break as Roberto Soriano was put through on goal by Nenad Krsticic, and the Vojvodina 'keeper Srdan Zakula somehow saved the ball with his face. A sore one it may have been, but a crucial denial given the state of the game.
On the stroke of half time Vojvodina came close through a scramble, yet were unable to level on the night and as a result it was a 0-1 half time scoreline.
Still a mountain to climb for the visitors although they will have been encouraged, knowing how important the next goal will be to the game.
Zenga had a vital team talk to give, with mission impossible made slightly more possible thanks to the Eder goal.
Sampdoria pile on the pressure
The Italian side started the second half with good intent, attacking the byline well thanks to the exploits of Eder and Muriel, but struggled to fashion the clear-cut chances required for the miracle to take place.
Vojvodinov should have put the game to bed ten minutes later, as a perfect cross was met by an Ognjen Ozegovic header that was saved at point blank by Emiliano Viviano in the Doria goal, preventing what would have really been a tie killer.
Viviano was required for more heroics with just less than 25 minutes left as Novica Maksimovic hit a sweet strike following a pull back to the edge of the box. The resulting corner was headed wide.
So close, yet so far as Muriel pulls another goal back
Straight from the corner, Viviano cleared down field, and Eder provided Muriel with a golden opportunity to make the tie well and truly alive thanks to a gorgeous backheel. Muriel obliged, slotting in the bottom right corner, making it 4-2 on aggregate in favour of the Serbian side.
Sampdoria threw on a trio of changes in quick succession, aiming to change the outcome the tie seemed destined for, but they did not have the desired effect.
A good effort from a valiant Samp side, much changed from the first leg performance, yet they always gave themselves a bit too much to do.
Credit must go to Zlatomir Zagorcic's side who deserved to progress after a ruthless display in the first 90 minutes of the tie. Without doubt one of the biggest achievements in the clubs 100th anniversary year.