Luca Rossettini has given Cagliari a surprise half-time lead over Sassuolo thanks to dire marking.
Gianfranco Zola had revived the Sardinians’ fortunes in recent weeks, but they remained third from bottom and missed Andrea Cossu, Victor Ibarbo, Luca Ceppitelli and Antonio Balzano. The Neroverdi were surprisingly high up the table at the midway stage, so rumours suggested this could be Simone Zaza’s last game before a transfer to Juventus.
Luca Rossettini has given Cagliari a surprise half-time lead over Sassuolo thanks to dire marking.
Gianfranco Zola had revived the Sardinians’ fortunes in recent weeks, but they remained third from bottom and missed Andrea Cossu, Victor Ibarbo, Luca Ceppitelli and Antonio Balzano. The Neroverdi were surprisingly high up the table at the midway stage, so rumours suggested this could be Simone Zaza’s last game before a transfer to Juventus.
Cagliari took the lead with the first genuine scoring opportunity and it was defender Luca Rossettini’s second of the season. He was allowed a totally free header on a corner, as nobody tracked him at all.
Domenico Berardi curled a free kick inches wide of the far top corner from an improbable angle, while Andrea Consigli got fingertips to a Samuele Longo cut-back to take it just beyond Joao Pedro.
Longo had the ball in the back of the net for the hosts, but had been standing in a clear offside position when Albin Ekdal’s shot ricocheted into his path.
Cagliari 1-0 Sassuolo (Half-Time)
Scorers: Rossettini 20 (C)
Cagliari: Brkic; Gonzalez, Rossettini, Capuano, Avelar; Donsah, Crisetig, Dessena; Joao Pedro, Longo, Ekdal
Sassuolo: Consigli; Gazzola, Cannavaro, Acerbi, Vrsaljko; Brighi, Magnanelli, Missiroli; Berardi, Zaza, Sansone
Ref: Rocchi