Primavera, the rossoblù defeat Empoli
The rossoblù Primavera team, led by coach Pisacane, wins 1-0 away against Empoli: the decisive goal in the second half comes from Vinciguerra.
BALANCED FIRST HALF
The first opportunity of the match belongs to the rossoblù: in the 18th minute, Vinciguerra steals the ball from the defense at the edge of the midfield and breaks free, finding himself one-on-one with Vertua. The striker tries to dribble past the opposing goalkeeper, but the Empoli keeper does well to save, deflecting the ball. On the rebound, Vinciguerra gets another chance, but his cross-shot goes wide. The game remains balanced, although Cagliari is controlling possession. In the 38th minute, Empoli have their first attempt: Baralla carries the ball down the right, cuts inside, and from over 20 meters out, takes a good shot that goes just wide of the post, with Iliev still in control. The first half ends goalless.
ROSSOBLÙ ADVANTAGE
Just a few minutes into the second half, Pisacane’s boys take the lead. Vinciguerra is the protagonist, receiving the ball inside the box, holding off an opponent’s challenge, and turning with his back to goal to finish with his right foot. A well-crafted goal from the rossoblù captain, it’s the 51st minute. Empoli respond: in the 59th minute, Matteazzi heads the ball from inside the box, but Iliev is quick to react and catches it at the bottom. In the 63rd minute, Vinciguerra is in action again: a cross from the right by Arba, the striker attempts an acrobatic bicycle kick, but his shot is straight at the keeper, Vertua makes the save. Empoli continue to push: Scienza, out on the left, takes a shot from inside the box, but Iliev blocks it and concedes a corner (58′). In the 72nd minute, Pisacane makes his first changes, bringing off Balde and Vinciguerra for Malfitano and Trepy.
THREE POINTS IN THE BAG
In the 81st minute, another double substitution for the rossoblù: Bolzan and Marcolini make way for Achour and Marini. It’s immediately Achour who poses a threat: the striker receives the ball at the edge of the box and, with a right-footed shot, curls the ball toward the far post, forcing Vertua to tip it out for a corner. In the 89th minute, substitute Monaco finds himself one-on-one with Iliev, but the goalkeeper comes out and collects the ball. There are four minutes of added time, which stretch to over five, with Empoli pushing forward in search of the equalizer, but Cagliari withstand the pressure without facing any major threats. The last action of the match sees Malfitano intercept the ball in midfield, break on the counter, and take a shot, but it’s straight at Vertua. The match ends 1-0, and the rossoblù secure all three points.
EMPOLI: Vertua, El Biache (46’ Scienza), Barsotti, Matteazzi (81’ Di Leva), Mannelli (65’ Tordiglione), Bembnista, Baralla (81’ Huqi), Popov, Rugani, Olivieri, Gravelo (86’ Monaco).
Substitutes: Versari, Moray, Falcusan, Solbes, Baud Banaga, Chiucchiuini.
Coach: Filippeschi.
CAGLIARI:
Iliev, Arba, Franke, Pintus, Cogoni, Grandu, Liteta, Marcolini (81’ Marini), Balde (72’ Malfitano), Bolzan (81’ Achour), Vinciguerra (72’ Trepy).
Substitutes: Auseklis, Collu, Sulev, Ardau, Goryanov, Langella.
Coach: Fabio Pisacane.
REFEREE: Silvestri from Rome
GOALS: 51’ Vinciguerra
