CAGLIARI (ITALPRESS) – Cagliari is struggling to get into gear in the league, but for the moment is flying in the Coppa Italia. At the Unipol Domus, in the second match of the round of 16, Nicola’s boys won 1-0 against Cremonese, thanks to Lapadula’s goal in the second half. In December, the Sardinians will face Juventus in the round of 16. A largely deserved passage to the round for Cagliari, dominant in the second half, but too wasteful in the last meters: the result could have been much more severe for Cremonese. As for the formations, both teams decided to keep part of the starters at rest. After a first quarter of an hour of running in, Cagliari takes over the reins of the game and begins to grind out play, exploiting mainly the side lanes. Among the Sardinians’ ranks, the most energetic are Augello, Felici and Azzi. Just the latter, on 19′, however, clamorously devours the goal of the lead with an empty goal: after Saro’s deflection, the ball caroms unluckily on the ex-Modena and ends up just wide. On 26′ it’s bomber Lapadula’s turn, who scares the Grigiorossi, coordinating on the volley and hitting the post. Cremonese started better in the second half, taking advantage of a more ballistic Cagliari in defense. Milanese and De Luca relied on shooting from outside, without, however, being able to trouble Sherri. After a few minutes of suffering, Cagliari reinvigorated and hit Cremonese, thanks to a lethal restart. At 60′, from the left, Augello put in the middle for Lapadula, who was good at slipping between Moretti and Lochoshvili and deflecting into the net from a few steps. Decisive in finding the 1-0 lead were the substitutions of Viola and Piccoli, who definitely raised the quality of the Sardinians’ play. Three minutes later, Saro overcame himself, reading Lapadula’s lob attempt and denying him the one-two: the guests’ goalkeeper also parried Piccoli’s subsequent right-footed shot from outside. Possession of the ball is now firmly in the hands of Cagliari, which flirts several times with 2-0, but does not give the opponents the coup de grace. In 78′ Luvumbo ate the goal all alone in front of Saro: followed shortly after by Viola’s shot from the limit, out by a whisker. In the final Cremonese could not find any breakthrough and was eliminated. For Cagliari, however, comes the first win of the season and the round of 16 against Juventus.- Photo Ipa Agency – (ITALPRESS)
