Ibrahima Sulemana made a significant impact as a substitute, securing a crucial point for Cagliari against Verona, thereby maintaining both teams’ positions just above the relegation zone.
Prior to this match, both teams had managed to elevate themselves out of the bottom three, albeit by a slim margin of one point, intensifying the importance of this encounter in the context of securing safety. Cagliari faced significant injury setbacks, with key players such as Andrea Petagna, Leonardo Pavoletti, and Marco Mancosu sidelined. However, the return of Zito Luvumbo, Eldor Shomurodov, Gianluca Gaetano, and Yerry Mina provided a boost to their lineup. On the opposing side, Hellas Verona coach Marco Baroni was absent from the touchline due to a suspension, while Reda Belahyane and Elayis Tavsan were unavailable for selection.
The match commenced with Cagliari showing aggression, exemplified by Shomurodov’s inability to convert a close-range opportunity from a cross along the by-line. Nonetheless, it was Verona who seized the lead through a remarkable sequence of play. Tijjani Noslin delivered a precise cross from the right flank, finding Federico Bonazzoli, who executed an acrobatic aerial back-heel flick that beat goalkeeper Simone Scuffet.
Despite Verona’s advantage, Cagliari displayed resilience, with Darko Lazovic almost equalizing shortly after entering the fray as a substitute. However, his effort was ruled out for offside following an assist from Ondrej Duda. Cagliari continued to press, with Luvumbo’s appeals for a penalty dismissed despite a clear foul from Jackson Tchatchoua. The match remained fiercely contested, featuring chances at both ends of the pitch, including a blocked attempt from Tommaso Augello and a decisive intervention by goalkeeper Consigli to thwart Lazovic.
Ultimately, Cagliari found the breakthrough they sought when substitute Ibrahima Sulemana capitalized on a poorly cleared cross from Nicolas Viola, slotting the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the box to level the score. In the dying moments of the game, Verona goalkeeper Montipò produced a remarkable fingertip save to deny Luvumbo’s shot, preserving a share of the points for his team.
Cagliari 1-1 Verona