Cagliari still ko: the match against Empoli ends 0-2

Home defeat for Cagliari on the fifth matchday of Serie A.

At Unipol Domus Empoli conquers the three points, thanks to goals from Di Francesco in the first half and Stulac in the second half. It ends 0-2 for the Tuscans, third knockout for the rossoblù in five games.

TRAINING - For its second match on the bench Rossoblu coach Mazzarri fielded Cragno, Walukiewicz, Ceppitelli, Carboni, Lykogiannis, Nendaz, Deiola, Marin, Dalbert, Joao Pedro and Keita.

Andreazzoli responds instead with Vicario, Stojanovic, Romagnoli, Viti, Marchizza, Zurkowski, Ricci, Henderson, Haas, Di Francesco and Pinamonti.

Race direction entrusted to referee Di Bello.

FIRST HALF - The teams immediately start at a good pace, with long balls looking for the tips, but also with more maneuvered actions. In the first minutes Marchizza tries for the guests and Joao Pedro tries for the Sardinians, but both do not find the door.

From 20 'Cagliari tries to push on the accelerator, with Keita, with Nandez and with Lykogiannis. The Greek also tries the blow from a distance, but testing the reflexes of Vicario, former of the match.

But it is Empoli who really close the lead, on 27 ', when Marchizza from the left hits a very insidious ball on which Di Francesco does not reach by a whisker.

It is the prelude to the advantage of the Tuscans, which comes two minutes later. Haas still fishes Di Francesco in the area, left too alone, and the former Sassuolo striker (and son of the former rossoblù coach Eusebio) stops and overtakes Cragno for 0-1.

Empoli again at the end of the fraction: Nandez loses the ball, Henderson takes advantage of it and tries the shot, but Cragno rejects and Carboni moves away.

At half-time guests above.

SECOND HALF - In the second half Mazzarri wastes no time and inserts Godin and Strootman for Carboni and Deiola from the start.

The rossoblùs try several times to get closer to the goal defended by Vicario, but the attempts of recovery led by Joao Pedro and Nandez do not bear fruit, until the 58th minute when Lykogiannis puts in from the left an interesting suggestion for Joao, with the Brazilian who from two steps does not find the winning deviation.

A minute later Cagliari still touches a draw: Nandez from the right takes Keita into the heart of the area, the number 9 coordinates and shoots right, but the post saves Vicario and Empoli.

At 62 'comes the Tuscan break, with Pinamonti who on a corner hits his head undisturbed, but found Strootman to reject almost on the line.

Six minutes later a new thrill for Cagliari: Zurkowski stops and shoots from the edge, but Cragno opposes for a corner. But it's a matter of seconds: on the developments of the corner Stulac collects a rebound from the outside and guesses the shot that is worth doubling.

Down two, Mazzarri takes Walukiewicz and puts in Caceres. Then Lykogiannis gives way to Gaston Pereiro.

But Empoli is still close to the mark, with Henderson who on the counterattack overcomes the midfield, sees Cragno out of the posts and tries the lob from sidereal distance: to deny him the anthology goal is only the crossbar.

The reaction of Cagliari comes on the reversal of the front with Joao Pedro, who served by Marin tries the diagonal, with no luck.

Six from the end Mazzarri is played all out, sending Pavoletti on the field in place of Ceppitelli.

However, it is again the guests who touch the trio: Bajrami enters the area from the right and shoots at the net diagonally, with the ball that is printed on the pole.

Di Bello grants 5 minutes of recovery and Cagliari tries to throw themselves forward to attempt the feat. But it's all in vain.

It ends 0-2 for the Tuscans. And on Sunday for the rossoblù there is a fiery trip to "Diego Maradona" against Napoli.

(Unioneonline / lf)