Cagliari hit the woodwork three times before Alessandro Romano’s screamer finally secured a deserved victory away to Parma.
This already felt like an early relegation tussle, with two teams who had many changes during the summer. Sascha Britschgi sat out a ban for the hosts, with Hans Nicolussi Caviglia and Benjamin Cremaschi injured. The Sardinians were shaken by striker Yael Trepy’s swimming pool accident a week ago, which saw him placed in an induced coma, but he came out of intensive care yesterday. Sebastiano Esposito was frozen out over a contract dispute, with Riyad Idrissi a long-term absentee.
See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.
Daniel Maldini’s right-foot curler skimmed the far post from outside the area, but Paul Mendy was unlucky not to put Cagliari in front when he turned Mariano Troilo, the deflected finish clipping the far post.
The Sardinians again came so close in first half stoppages, as the Alessandro Deiola glancing header on an Alessandro Romano free kick struck the base of the back stick.
Harry Winks tested the goalkeeper with a scuffed finish, while Simone Lontani couldn’t keep his finish down after an awkward bounce on the Stadio Tardini turf.
Cagliari incredibly hit the upright for the third time, when Jacopo Fazzini burst through the middle, his strike was palmed onto the post by Edoardo Corvi, and it bounced back into the goalkeeper’s grateful arms.
The Sardinians eventually took a deserved lead with an absolute screamer from distance, as Alessandro Romano’s rocket bent back Corvi’s hand to fly into the top corner. He celebrated by holding up the jersey of teammate Trepy, who was watching from hospital.
Nesta Elphege had a free header on a set play in stoppages, but couldn’t keep it down.
Parma 0-1 Cagliari
Romano 79 (C)
Player statistic
| 10' | Zé Pedro |
| 57' |  |
Jacopo Fazzini | ||
| 79' |  |
Alessandro Romano (Assist: Michel Adopo) |
