Verona, return to success: Cagliari knocked out and overtaken
Verona-Cagliari 2-0
Baroni’s Verona won the crucial salvation clash at the Bentegodi against Ranieri’s Cagliari with goals from Ngonge and Djuric in the second half. With this success, which had been missing since last August 26 against Roma also at home, Verona returns “virtually” to Serie A, leaving the same Sardinian formation in third’last place. Lower part of the standings: Sassuolo 16, Udinese 14, Hellas Verona 14, Cagliari 13 points, Empoli 12, Salernitana 9. Next round: Verona-Salernitana (Saturday, Dec. 30, 6 p.m.), Cagliari-Empoli (Saturday, Dec. 30, 3 p.m.).
First half. The rejuvenated Saponara, in his first start this year in Baroni’s Hellas, tries the line under the goal, closed in for a corner. 8’: Sardinians very close to the lead, good for the Veronese that the diagonal of Nandez, undisturbed from one-on-one with Montipò, ends up to the side. Another very good chance Cagliari signed by a lightning-fast shot from outside by Prati (11’), Montipò touches it, full post: also this time Hellas saves. And’ monologue of Ranieri’s team that creates the third opportunity’; Baroni’s rearguard at butterflies, Nandez takes advantage, this time he invents a lob just outside. Hellas wakes up, great touch by Saponara for Henry, the Sardinian defense in the corner. On the’other front: Cristanio, great turn in the area, not the conclusion shot over the crossbar. The match è pleasant, frontline tilts are the order of the day as Cagliari’s fourth chance: Dossena corrects a corner with an underhand touch at the second post on an unguarded goal, ball resoundingly out. Lightning Hellas (29’) with Suslov from the limit after a’personal action: conclusion deflected into the corner by Scuffet. The Veronese raise the percentage of ball possession but fail to make an impact in the opponent’s 16 meters. 38’: Goldaniga pops up at the second post and scores, the referee cancels the Sardinians’ 1 to 0 for offside. One minute of recovery: Hongla makes the break but from the limit he kicks it to the stars.
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Start of the second half: in goes Djuric and Doig in the Hellas. The Bosnian misses the hook in the unguarded goal, failing to give Hellas the lead. Cagliari looks for the pertugio of remittance but remains in 10 at 7’: expelled Makoumbo for double admonition. 8’: Ngonge s’s slipped through the Sardinian rearguard from the right, entered the area and, with a low shot at the second post, made it 1-0 surprising Scuffet. Bentegodi in raptures. Ranieri tries to run for cover: inside Sulenama and Luvumbo in Cagliari. Great free kick by Duda from the right vertex of the Sardinian area, conclusion directed towards the opposite post, out by a little. 20’: Even in 10, Cagliari is not intimidated and forces Montipò into a corner. Ngonge comes back into the limelight: center from the right, Djuric’s breakaway, ball high. 26’: inside Lazovic. 25’: very dangerous corner by Nandez, Montipò beaten but not Hongla who saves on the line the Veronese lead. The Sardinians don’t give up, Verona tries to control the competitive ardor, restarting especially on the right with a wild Ngonge who drains golden balls in the middle but there’s no one in the middle. 32’: inside Mboula in Hellas, in Cagliari here are Azzi and Zappa. Verona controls even though Ranieri’s Cagliari “English”, who also inserts Lapadula (40’), è indomitable in seeking the draw. Exposing himself, however, to the counterattacks of the Gialloblù who wasted two excellent opportunities to close the hostilitiesà. 41’: imperious header by Djuric, equally the deflection into the corner of Scuffet, Cagliari’s Extremo, also miraculous on Mboula, launched by Djuric. The same Mboula returned, in the 90th minute, the courtesy to Djuric who made it 2-0. Five minutes of stoppage time, Sulemana almost makes it 2 to 1, triple whistle: Hellas-Cagliari 2-0.
