Costa Orientale Sarda opened the Circillai "Mario Todde" stadium in Bari Sardo with a 2-1 victory over Monastir in the first round of the Coppa Italia Serie D, qualifying for the round of 32 on October 7. A second-half brace from Martins proved decisive.
Monastir got off to a good start in the first half: Aloia's shot wide in the 14th minute and hit the post on the half-hour mark, while Xaxa denied Belli and Gianoli. For Cos, Contini twice stopped Odianose, while Caggiu, facing the goalkeeper, misplaced a pass to Intinacelli.
At halftime, Nicola Ruggeri, on the bench for the suspended Francesco Loi, brought on Martins and De Luca: after five minutes, the former Lanusei player broke the deadlock with the first playable opportunity. In the 34th minute, Collu brought down Morrone in the penalty area; referee Fresu of Sassari awarded a penalty and sent off the defender, but Martins converted. Monastir reduced the deficit to ten men in the 42nd minute through Mameli; in stoppage time, Cos almost made it three when Morrone hit the post.
A winning debut at their new home, but the derby doesn't end there: next Sunday the two teams meet again for the opening matchday of Group G of Serie D.
