Cagliari ran out 1-0 winners against Fiorentina at the Stadio Sant’Elia on Saturday evening.
Mauricio Pinilla’s 39th minute penalty proved enough to earn the Sardi a deserved three points, as they ended a run of three straight defeats and earned their first victory of the calendar year.
The Viola played the ball around well in the opening stages, pulling their opponents across the pitch, waiting for the perfect time to strike, with David Pizarro their key man in the midfield.
Daniele Dessena then had a golden opportunity to open the scoring for the Isolani down the other end – Nicola Murru put in a dangerous cross from the left, which was spilled by Neto after he collided with one of his own players. The ball fell to Pinilla, whose shot was well-saved, but not held by the Viola keeper, and a follow-up attempt by Dessena was sent way off target to the left of goal.
Dessena made another attempt on goal minute later, with the shot-cum-cross almost being met by Pinilla who stretched to reach it, but missed with the ball going out for a goal kick.
Cagliari continued to push for the opening goal and got their reward, with Pinilla converting a spot-kick, striking the ball down the middle as Neto dived to his right. Sau was well marshalled away from goal by Facundo Roncaglia, but the Argentine brought him down as he went in for the tackle. The Sardi native drew a lot of fouls during the course of the game, with his pace causing many problems for the Gigliati.
The Rossoblu started the second period as they had finished the first, looking for their second goal, and both sides upped the tempo significantly following the restart.
Borja Valero had a positive impact for the visitors after coming on for Anderson, and was highly influential following his return from injury, popping up all over the pitch.
Fiorentina were on the back foot as the hosts went in search of their second goal, with the Viola defence trying desperately to stop their opponents from attempting a shot on goal. Cagliari looked the better team, playing with aggression, holding onto the ball well and defending admirably, although they refused to just sit back and hold on to their lead.
The Sardi were the next to go on the attack, as Dessena tried a powerful shot from the right to Neto’s left. The Brazilian palmed the stinging shot clear of danger.
After some good work from Valero on the edge of the opposition’s area, he passed the ball to Alessandro Matri on the left, but his shot from a tight angle was easy for Avramov, who held onto it well.
With 25 minutes to go, Sau and Pinilla again combined well to test Neto – Sau used his speed once more to race down the wing. He passed the ball inside to Pinilla, whose tricky low shot at the near post was saved by Neto and put out for a corner.
Pinilla tried again minutes later, this time from the left – he tricked Roncaglia by pulling the ball back onto his right foot, but shot a tame effort straight at Neto.
With both teams stretched and with tired legs 10 minutes from time, Cagliari continued to push for their second, doing well to keep the ball away from Avramov’s goal.
Stefan Savic then nearly scored a calamitous own-goal, scuffing a clearance after he met a well-struck Dessena cross from the right.
Substitute Adryan went down too easily under a challenge on the right, and the referee decided against awarding a free-kick, as the 19-year-old wasted a great chance to pass to Nene who was free in the middle and could have gone on to score.
Albin Ekdal then missed a chance in the final minute of injury time after his one-two with Pinilla in the box – He hit the ball over from close range on the left of goal moments before the referee blew the final whistle.
