Primavera 1 | Cagliari b. Atalanta 1-0

Cagliari Under 20, led by coach Pisano, enjoyed a fine victory over Atalanta 1-0 at the CRAI Sport Center in Assemini on matchday 16 of the Primavera 1 championship. This crucial win for the league standings against the fifth-placed team, who arrived in Sardinia with only one defeat. These three points were well-deserved, in a match of heart and character, featuring engaging, high-tempo play.

THE FIRST HALF
The opening stages were balanced, with Cagliari pressing hard from high up the pitch. A scare came in the 18th minute, when Mungari’s shot hit the post. The Rossoblu responded with a powerful but inaccurate shot from Malfitano. In the 29th minute, Hamdaoua tried with a powerful right-footed shot that grazed Zanchi’s goalposts. The Franco-Moroccan striker found the target in the 35th minute, but Zanchi deflected it out for a corner. Sulev fired from the corner, beating Trepy, who was forgotten by the Bergamo defenders in the six-yard box, but his header went over the crossbar.

Atalanta came to the fore in the 42nd minute, with Baldo beaten to the near post by Cogoni following a powerful cross from Percassi from the right. Russo responded with a shot from outside the box that didn’t trouble Zanchi. A forced substitution for Atalanta in the 44th minute, Ruiz replacing the injured Pedretti. The curtain fell on a strong first half for Pisano’s team.

THE SECOND HALF
A substitution each after the break: Cagliari replaces Franke with Prettenhofer, while the Nerazzurri substitute Isoa replaces Ronaldi. Atalanta starts strongly, with Aliprandi failing to clear the ball from close range, and Baldo is beaten by Prettenhofer. Cagliari responds in the 54th minute: Trepy finds Hamdaoua alone in front of Zanchi, who is blocked by the Bergamo goalkeeper. Cagliari makes a second substitution in the 15th minute: Goryanov and Mendy come on for Malfitano and Hamdaoua. In the 64th minute, Sulev’s dangerous shot is deflected for a corner by a defender. From the corner, Cogoni heads towards Marini, who is beaten to the ball at the last minute. Roguski comes on for Russo, and the 72nd minute is over. Immediately afterward, Trepy, facing Zanchi, fails to generate any power with his header.

Cagliari broke the deadlock in the 78th minute: a brilliant play by Goryanov, his shot from outside the box swerving toward the far corner, Zanchi leaping and deflecting it onto the post, but he could do nothing with Trepy’s easy tap-in. Atalanta reacted furiously, pouring into the Rossoblu’s half. Cagliari held firm, and Mendy found the net but it was ruled out for offside. Trepy’s left-footed effort again went for goal, but Zanchi saved for a corner. Cagliari deserved credit for not being pressured, keeping the ball high, and securing a crucial result.

Next Sunday, the Rossoblù will play away to league leaders Fiorentina.

CAGLIARI: Kehayov, Cogoni, Franke (46′ Prettenhofer), Marini, Nunn, Sulev, Tronci, Malfitano (60′ Goryanov), Russo (72′ Roguski), Hamdaoua (60′ Mendy), Trepy – A disposizione Auseklis, Doppio, Vargiu, Pintus, Costa, Pibiri, Cardu – All.: Pisano

ATALANTA: Zanchi, Gobbo, Ramaj, Mencaraglia, Artesani, Baldo, Rinaldi (46′ Isoa), Mungari (84′ Gasparello), Aliprandi (75′ Camara), Percassi (75′ Arrigoni), Pedretti (44′ Ruiz) – A disposizione Anelli, Galafassi, Parmiggiani, Bono, Bilac, Belli – All.: Bosi.

REFEREE: Galiffi from Alghero.

GOAL:: 78′ Trepy (C)