Primavera 1 | Lazio-Cagliari 2-2

Cagliari Primavera earned a valuable draw away to Lazio, overcoming a two-goal deficit to finish a game that seemed already over. At Formello, the Biancocelesti took a two-goal lead thanks to Serra’s brace, but the Rossoblu found the energy and composure to rally and level the score, securing a crucial point.

The match started evenly and lacked opportunities, with both teams focusing primarily on not conceding space. Lazio attempted to threaten in the 10th minute with Serra, set up by Gelli, but his shot went wide. The first yellow card of the match came in the 14th minute, against Ciucci. The match remained deadlocked until the 27th minute, when the home team took the lead: Serra capitalized on a mistake by Kehayov while building from deep and made it 1-0 in two stages: first the goalkeeper saved, then the striker made no mistake. Cagliari attempted to respond in the 30th minute with Costa following a cross from Sulev, but his shot went wide. Lazio continued to push forward and came close to doubling their lead several times towards the end of the first half: in the 38th minute, Battisti came close with two close-range attempts, both of which were saved by a reactive Kehayov, while in the 42nd minute, Pernasceli beat everyone to the near post but blocked it wide. We go into half-time with the Biancocelesti leading by a narrow margin.

The second half, however, got off to a disastrous start for the Rossoblu. After just 14 seconds, Lazio doubled their lead: Fernandes broke down the left and fed Serra, who controlled the ball and beat Kehayov with a left-footed shot to make it 2-0, completing his brace. Cagliari felt the pinch, and Lazio continued to create chances, coming close to a third in the 58th minute through Gelli, whose shot hit the post after a short clearance from the Sardinian defense following a corner. Pisano attempted to change the momentum with substitutions: in the 59th minute, Malfitano and Hamdaoua came on for Sulev and Costa, while Roguski and Cardu also arrived further forward. Lazio continued to pose a threat, especially from set pieces, such as in the 63rd minute when Trifelli headed the ball wide.

Just as the match seemed headed toward a Lazio victory, Cagliari found the move that reopened the game. In the 77th minute, Tronci fed Cardu, who beat Pannozzo to the box and made it 2-1. The goal revitalized the Rossoblu, who increased the pressure and nearly equalized in the 85th minute through Sugamele, who fired a powerful shot that was saved by a great save from the Lazio goalkeeper. Lazio retreated toward the end, and Cagliari continued to push until they finally equalized in the 90th minute: following a free kick taken by Sugamele, Cogoni rose to the far post with a header, and Bordoni’s deflection fooled the Biancocelesti defense, sealing the score at 2-2. The final whistle confirmed Cagliari’s comeback, capitalizing on Lazio’s slump in the final quarter of an hour and taking home an important point after a long uphill battle.

SCOREBOARD
Reti: 27′-46′ Serra (L), 77′ Cardu (C), 90′ aut. Bordoni (L).
Lazio: Pannozzo; Ciucci, Battisti (70′ Baldi), Cuzzarella (70′ Canali), Bordon, Bordoni, Serra, Munoz (80′ Milillo), Pernasceli (60′ Trifelli), Cangemi (46′ Ferrari), Fernandes. A disp.: Bosi, Calvani, Santagostino, Sulejmani, Marinaj, Montano, Iorio. All.: Punzi.
Cagliari: Kehayov; Tronci, Costa (59′ Malfitano), Cogoni, Prettenhoffer (69′ Cardu), Grandu, Sulev (59′ Hamdaoua), Franke, Sabino Russo (69′ Roguski), Amos Marini, Sugamele. A disp.: Lesiewicz, Doppio, Pintus, Pibiri, Stanev Goryanov, Nunn. All.: Rubicini.
Referee: Sig. Gerardo Simone Caruso.
Red cards: Ciucci (L), Baldi (L).