Italian Serie A – Full Time review: Fiorentina versus Cagliari (Part 1)
Fiorentina line up: Boruc, De Silvestri, Gamberini, Camporese, Pasqual, Donadel, D'Agostino, Santana, Ljajic, Vargas, Mutu; Subs: Avramov, Zanetti, Marchionni, Bolatti, Cerci, Babacar
Cagliari line up: Agazzi, Laner, Canini, Astori, Agostini, Conti, Nainggolan, Biondini, Cossu, Nene, Matri; Subs: Pelizzoli, Magliocchetti, Ariaudo, Sivakov, Lazzari, Ragatzu, Acquafresca
Fiorentina started the match off brightly as Mutu was in action during second minute of the match. The ex-Chelsea striker just missed the Cagliari goal by a whisker with his first shot of the match after the ball was played by a goal kick.
In the 8th minute of the match, the Romanian striker was in action yet again as he unleashed a half volley from the boundary of Cagliari’s right sided penalty area. However, his threatening shot was deflected off Agazzi as Santana was
waiting to pounce on a mistake by the Cagliari goalkeeper.
In the 20th minute, Fiorentina were threatening yet again and this time it was Santana who played in Mutu. The prolific striker didn’t need an invitation to try his luck on goal as the ball was swept away by Agazzi
yet again. The Cagliari goalie had a very good first half as he kept his team in the match for most of the first half.
In the 38th minute of the match, Fiorentina were given a free kick by the referee as Mutu was brought down near the left hand side of Cagliari’s penalty area. It was a fantastic opportunity for Viola to draw first
blood right before the half time whistle but the ensuing free kick was well wide of the mark. Fiorentina ended the half in attacking fashion but they failed to open the scoring. Nonetheless it was a good half for the home side whereas Cagliari will consider
themselves lucky to be on level terms at the half time break with the score line at 0-0.
At the half time break, Cagliari’s manager rung changes as he introduced Ariaudo in place of Laner, Ljajic had given Laner a tough time in the first half of the match and thus it seemed logical that Cagliari went for a different option
in the full back position for the final 45 minutes of the match. Fiorentina began the second half just like they are finished the first one as Ljajic surged forward. However, the winger was brought down by Astori as the Cagliari defender had put his arm across
the Viola winger’s face.
Referee booked Astori by showing him the yellow card for his offense as the first booking of the match took place. In the 52nd minute of the match, D’Agostino played in a brilliant free kick into the Cagliari penalty
area. The free kick was right on target as Mutu headed the ball powerfully to cement it into the bottom right hand corner of the Cagliari net. The Cagliari goalkeeper Agazzi was inches away from the ball as Fiorentina deservedly took the lead.
In the 53rd minute, Fiorentina’s midfielder Donadel went into the referee’s book as he latched down Rainggolan near the half way line. It was a bad tackle by the playmaker was rightly shown a yellow card for his
troubles. 56th minute saw Conti try his luck on the Viola goal for the first time in the match, but the Cagliari midfielder’s shot was held onto by Boruc despite the fact that it was hit quite powerfully.
Mutu soon followed his team mate Donadel into the referee’s book as he tried to outrageously hand ball a corner kick into the back of the net. It was an idiotic thing to do which the officials spotted and as a result was shown a yellow
card.
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