By Anna Italia
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38% Ball Possession CAGLIARI and 62% Ball Possession EMPOLI
Cagliari 1 – 1 Empoli 
20′ Joao Pedro 93′ Matias Vecino
Serie A Standing BEFORE the game:
Cagliari, 18th position with 20 points and a negative goal difference of -17
Empoli, 15th position with 29 points and a negative goal difference of -2
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | Goals | DIFF | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Empoli | 26 | 5 | 14 | 7 | 26:28 | -2 | 29 |
| 18 | Cagliari | 26 | 4 | 8 | 14 | 32:49 | -17 | 20 |
It’s a wake up call for Cagliari, but the alarm did not work. The need to win this home game to see the light at the end of the tunnel for salvation was a “must”. Cagliari almost got this victoy, but Empoli equalizing in the 93rd minute to crash the party. It’s also the re-debut of returning coach Zdenek Zeman after the sacking of coach Gianfranco Zola.
Things working out for Cagliari. In the 20th minute forward Joao Pedro opens the score defeating Empoli goalkeeper Luigi Sepe with a right footed shot in the bottom right corner. The assist is by forward Diego Farias.
A slap for Cagliari as Empoli equalize in the 93rd minute. It is midfielder Matias Vecino to become the verdugo for Cagliari and hero for Empoli. Vecino defeating Cagliari goalkeeper Brkic with a right footed shot in the enter. The assist is by defender Mario Rui. Surely a special goal and making it more valuable is that Empoli had not scored previously after the 77th minute. So, this one in the agonizing 93rd minute is a historic goal this season for Empoli.
Here is CAGLIARI official starting lineup by coach Zdenek Zeman:
Cagliari (4-3-3): Brkić; Balzano, Ceppitelli, Diakité, Murru; Dessena, Crisetig, João Pedro; Farias, Sau, M’Poku
Here is EMPOLI official starting lineup by coach Maurizio Sarri:
Empoli (4-3-1-2): Sepe; Hysaj, Rugani, Barba, Mario Rui; Vecino, Signorelli, Croce; Saponara; Maccarone, Mchedlidze
Photo cagliaricalcio.net
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Empoli FC Tickets================================
Stats AFTER the game. Top scorer for CAGLIARI: Danilo Avelar, Albin Ekdal, Joao Pedro and Marco Sau with 4 goals each
Top scorer for EMPOLI: Forward Massimo Maccarone with 7 goals
| Cagliari | Goals | Goals | Empoli |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avelar, Danilo | 4 | 7 | Maccarone, Massimo |
| Ekdal, Albin | 4 | 4 | Tonelli, Lorenzo |
| Sau, Marco | 4 | 3 | Pucciarelli, Manuel |
| Joao Pedro Galvao | 4 | 3 | Rugani, Daniele |
| Farias, Diego | 3 | 2 | Tavano, Francesco |
Disciplinary Situation BEFORE the game. 2 suspended players for CAGLIARI: Avelar, Cossu
1 suspended player for EMPOLI: Valdifiori
2014 – 2015 Italian Serie A Week 27
Cagliari 1 – 1 Empoli
Saturday 14 March 2015
Sant’Elia Stadium
Cagliari, Italy
20:45
Referee: RIZZOLI
Assistants: LA ROCCA – MANGANELLI
Fourth Offiial: PEGORIN
ADD1: MASSA
ADD2: PASQUA
Goals: 20′ Joao Pedro (C), 93′ Matias Vecino (E)
Official formations – lineups:
Cagliari (4-3-3): Brkić; Balzano, Ceppitelli, Diakité, Murru; Dessena, Crisetig, João Pedro; Farias, Sau, M’Poku.
Subs.: Colombi, Cragno, Rossettini, Pisano, Conti, Barella, Hušbauer, Caio Rangel, Longo, Čop.
Coach: Zeman.
Empoli (4-3-1-2): Sepe; Hysaj, Rugani, Barba, Mario Rui; Vecino, Signorelli, Croce; Saponara; Maccarone, Mchedlidze.
Subs.: Pugliesi, Bassi, Laurini, Gemignani, Somma, Diousse, Verdi, Brillante, Zielinski, Tavano, Pucciarelli.
Coach.: Sarri
Match Stats
| Cagliari | Match Stats | Empoli |
| 1 | Goals | 1 |
| 16(5) | Shots (on goal) | 13(2) |
| 11 | Fouls | 12 |
| 4 | Corner kicks | 5 |
| 4 | Offsides | 1 |
| 38% | Ball Possession | 62% |
| 2 | Yellow Cards | 1 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 1 | Saves | 4 |
