Cagliari fought back for a potentially decisive relegation victory against struggling Monza, who collapsed even before Danilo D’Ambrosio’s harsh red card.
It was a pure battle between the bottom two, as the hosts made their debut under Salvatore Bocchetti with a dramatic 2-1 defeat at Parma. Pablo Mari saw red in this match and was therefore suspended, with Georgios Kyriakopoulos, Matteo Pessina, Roberto Gagliardini and Alessio Cragno injured. Zito Luvumbo and Jakub Jankto missed the move for the Sardinians, who had lost four on the bounce.
See how it went on the Liveblog.
It was a frantic start to the match, as after 90 seconds a Cagliari corner was returned to the far post for Mattia Felici to volley an acrobatic volley off the woodwork.
However, moments later Patrick Ciurria saw his shot deflected off Antoine Makoumbou’s fingertips from six yards out and the penalty was inevitable following a VAR review. Simone Scuffet went close, but Gianluca Caprari slotted the penalty straight into the nearest bottom corner to put Monza in front.
Stefano Turati flew to keep out a Nicolas Viola curler, but could do nothing about Nadir Zortea’s left-footed striker from outside the D that drew Cagliari level.
The Sardinians turned things around completely when Michel Adopo took over in midfield to spark Adam Obert’s counter-attack, culminating in Roberto Piccoli’s fierce right-footed strike into the near corner.
Viola’s angled attack went just wide moments later, as Pedro Pereira drove through the center of the defense and tested Scuffet one-on-one.
However, things went from bad to worse for Monza when Danilo D’Ambrosio tangled with Yerry Mina on the touchline and needlessly drove a boot into the Colombian’s crotch. The VAR and the referee considered this to be a voluntary action and immediately showed a red card.
Gianluca Lapadula went close to the third in saves, his angled shot bouncing off the inside of the far post.
Monza almost equalized with 10 men, as Samuele Birindelli’s wayward cross turned into a shot that had to be fingered over the bar.
Monza 1-2 Cagliari
Stylo Caprari 6 (M), Zortea 22 (C), Piccoli 56 (C)
Sent : D’Ambrosio 63 (M)
