Napoli, Calzona mocked on A debut: Cagliari finds equaliser in the 96th minute
Cagliari-Napoli 1-1
Napoli did not break free in the league and, on Calzona's Calzona debut in Serie A as coach, did not go beyond 1-1 against a Cagliari team that was never tame and capable of grabbing an important point in the salvation key in the sixth minute of recovery. The partenopei's last success, between league and Champions League, remains that of Feb. 4 at home against Hellas Verona (2-1).
Napoli, a lackluster start to the match
Cagliari, looking for points to try to get out of the relegation zone, harnessed a not particularly brilliant Napoli in the first half of the match: Ranieri’s team surges and was even on goal at 32', with a Gaetano’s free kick deflected as unfortunate as it was decisive by Rrahmani, but the referee cancels, with the help of the Var, for an offside by Lapadula. We arrive at the intermission on 0-0 without any other excitement.
Osimhen-gol, but not enough&#agrave;
In the second half, both coaches confirm the lineups lined up from 1', the first changes are those made by Ranieri at 60': in Pavoletti, Viola and Zappa, out Lapadula, Gaetano and Jankto. To score, forò, è Napoli, 5' later: Raspadori steals the ball from Augello, crosses to Osimhen and the Nigerian‘s winning header for 0-1. At 68' there would be a resounding wasted opportunity by Napoli, able to seize two poles in a few seconds again with Osimhen, but later comes the signal from the assistant that induces the referee to stop the game for off-side.
Last quarter of an hour and pinwheel of changes: between 73'and 85'Calzona takes off Kvaratskhelia, Zielinski, Raspadori, Mazzocchi and Osimhen, making room for Politano, Cajuste, Lindstrom, Ostigard and Simeone. On the other for Cagliari come in, at 75', Oristanio and Petagna for Augello and Pavoletti, who was injured in the meantime after a clash of play with Juan Jesus.
Zito Luvumbo gives Cagliari an important point
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The final è tense, Cagliari poured into the attack and at 96', when every effort seems to have been in vain, the surprise arrives: long throw towards the Napoli goal, Juan Jesus does not notice the arrival of Zito Luvumbo and the Angolan does not miss in front of Meret. It's 1-1, and there's no more time for a rejoinder.
The draw further frustrates the European ambitions of the now outgoing Italian champions, who remain ninth in the standings with just 37 points to their credit, while Cagliari climbs to 20 and joins Sassuolo and Hellas Verona, keeping alive their hopes of staying in A with twelve days left in the championship.
