Empoli conquers Cagliari 2-0, the Sardinians already in crisis

Empoli continues to amaze at the start of the season and on the fifth day of Serie A they also conquer Cagliari, continuing their streak of positive results. At Unipol Domus they win 2-0 thanks to goals from Colombo and Esposito, one in each half. With this success, the second in the championship, D’Aversa’s team reaches 9 points in the standings, temporarily catching up with Napoli, while Nicola’s men, with their third defeat in a row, remain stuck at the bottom with only 2 points earned.

Not much happens in the first half hour of the game, even if in terms of play and resourcefulness the visiting team is preferred. It is the Tuscans, in the 33rd minute, who take the lead with the first real opportunity of the match: Anjorin finds Colombo’s run vertically, who escapes the opposing defensive line and in front of Scuffet does not miss the 1-0. The Sardinians immediately try to react by pouring forward, but find themselves in their way an attentive Vasquez: the Italian goalkeeper first blocks Luvumbo coming out, then also responds to a penalty in motion by Deiola, which in any case would have been rendered in vain for a previous foul in attack. The start of the second half smiles again on Empoli, who doubles the lead in the 49th minute with Esposito: the attacker strikes on Pezzella’s cross, forcing Scuffet to intervene, then pounces on the rebound, signing the Tuscans’ second. This time Cagliari feels the blow and goes into confusion, so Nicola tries to mix things up by bringing in fresh forces from the bench.

In the 72nd minute, Gaetano, who had just entered the field, came close to scoring the goal of hope with a beautiful flying turn that ended just over. In the final minutes, the Sardinians tried their last desperate assaults without luck, but they also risked conceding the third goal once again on the blaze of Esposito, who kicked hard from the edge of the area, just missing the post.

“Today we gave a bad performance and the final result tonight is congruent”. This is how Davide Nicola, coach of Cagliari, began his analysis in the press conference of the match at the Unipol Domus Arena, lost 2-0 by the Sardinians against Empoli. A “not sufficient” performance, underlines the coach who also compliments the opponents.

“They were good at attacking the depth and the second balls while we were below par especially from an emotional point of view. There is a lot of work to do but we have to believe and find our strength again. We were not very aggressive, too confused – Nicola adds -. The path is tough, tonight we did not perform, there was a step back compared to the previous matches. Too many passes to the goalkeeper, there was no determination. It was the first time we have done a test like that. We did not show the necessary clarity and courage. Now we need to have the strength to react”.

The scoreboard

CAGLIARI (3-5-2): Scuffet 6; Zappa 5.5, Mina 6, Luperto 5; Zortea 5, Makoumbou 4.5 (1’st Pavoletti 5.5), Marin 6 (26’st Gaetano 6.5), Deiola 6, Augello 5 (15’st Azzi 6); Luvumbo 5.5 (15’st Viola 6), Piccoli 5.5 (30’st Lapadula 5.5). On the bench: Ciocci, Sherri, Wieteska, Palomino, Obert, Jankte, Felici, Adopo, Mutandwa. Coach: Nicola 5.

EMPOLI (3-4-2-1): Vasquez 7; Goglichidze 6.5, Ismajli 6.5, Viti 6.5; Gyasi 6 (45’st De Sciglio n/a), Anjorin 6.5 (13’st Haas 6), Grassi 6 (28’st Cacace 6), Pezzella 7; Colombo 7 (28’st Solbakken 6), Henderson 6; Esposito 7.5 (45’st Pellegri n/a). On the bench: Seghetti, Brancolini, Sambia, Ekong, Tosto, Marinucci, Konate. Coach: D’Aversa 7. REFEREE: Sozza di Seregno 6. GOALS: 33’pt Colombo, 4’st Esposito. NOTES: clear afternoon, pitch in good condition. Yellow cards: Colombo, Gyasi, Pavoletti. Corners: 10-4. Recovery: 1’pt, 5’st.