Match Report


Red Cross
today's match is sponsored by Red Cross
Match Report
It's a clear sunny day here at Stadio C. Castellani where Empoli play host to Cagliari. A crowd of 18,002 fill this 21,000 capacity stadium.
The pitch is in poor condition.
Both Empoli and Cagliari are lined up in a 4-2-4 formation.
Today's match is refereed by Fausto Tambellini.


0.00
Empoli start the match!
4.08
Olivier Cissé flicks a high pass forward. Marco Boinaheri collects the pass. Marco Boinaheri tries a spectacular long range effort. What a cracker!! Francisco Farinos had no chance!! Goal for Empoli!
8.50
Vincenzo Birnbaum decides to run forward with the ball. Vincenzo Birnbaum threads the ball through to Demetrios Apostolopoulos. Demetrios Apostolopoulos knocks in a poor cross ball which is cleared easily by Artur Ferreira.
9.04
Mauricio Ferrer flicks a high pass forward. Alfonso Montella holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. Alfonso Montella changes direction and makes an attacking run forward. Alfonso Montella lofts in a cross ball towards Demetrios Apostolopoulos. With a superhuman jump, Demetrios Apostolopoulos connects with the ball and heads it goalwards. The ball skims just under the bar, beyond the keeper's outstretched hand. Goal!!
15.22
Angelos Andriopoulos flicks a high pass forward to Fabio Bonera who brings the ball under control. Fabio Bonera makes an attacking run forward. Fabio Bonera knocks in a cross ball towards Neil Hurst. With a superhuman jump, Neil Hurst connects with the ball and heads it goalwards but Ramiro Johnson reads it well. Excellent save!
20.50
Olivier Cissé knocks the ball to his team mate, Gabriel Medina. Gabriel Medina makes a great pass forward. Joe Barmby runs clear and latches on but the linesman indicates offside!
24.18
Angelos Andriopoulos knocks the ball forward to Alfonso Montella. Alfonso Montella flicks the ball to his team mate, Fabio Bonera. Fabio Bonera sees the keeper off his line and tries a speculative shot on goal. The ball comes in low, but Ramiro Johnson effortlessly smothers it!
27.46
Mauricio Ferrer controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Alfonso Montella. Alfonso Montella decides to run forward with the ball. Alfonso Montella shoots from long range. The ball rattles the crossbar bouncing back into play. The loose ball is cleared by the defence.
33.43
Alfonso Montella comes in with a late challenge on Olivier Cissé. The referee calls over Alfonso Montella and warns him to calm down! Olivier Cissé stretches but gets up unharmed.
39.24
Olivier Cissé flicks a high pass forward. Kaci Sibierski collects the pass. Kaci Sibierski sees Guillermo Vicente just inside the box and quickly passes the ball. Guillermo Vicente makes some space for himself and shoots at goal. It's there!! Francisco Farinos has to pick the ball from the back of the net!
45.00
Artur Ferreira threads a neat ball through to Olivier Cissé. Olivier Cissé makes a beautiful pass to the feet of Marco Boinaheri. Marco Boinaheri knocks in a cross ball but it is headed clear by Vincenzo Birnbaum.
45.00
The whistle blows and the first half comes to an end!

Both teams emerge for the second half. Empoli appear unchanged since the first half. Cagliari also appear unchanged since the first half. The Cagliari players look more motivated than they were before.

45.00
Cagliari kick off the second half!
49.32
Alfonso Montella barges into Marco Boinaheri. The referee reaches into his pocket ... it's a yellow card! Marco Boinaheri carries on, but is struggling a bit.
51.18
Peter Tobiassen chips the ball to his team mate, Fabio Bonera. Fabio Bonera makes a probing pass to Neil Hurst. Neil Hurst lofts in a cross ball towards Fabio Bonera. Fabio Bonera makes a convincing header. The keeper is more than a match for it. He makes it look easy!
53.34
Alfonso Montella knocks the ball forward to Rui Ribeiro. Rui Ribeiro whips in a cross ball towards Ross Moore. Ross Moore connects with the ball, driving a powerful header at goal. Ramiro Johnson punches it away to safety.
55.29
Guillermo Vicente barges into Mauricio Ferrer. The referee brings Guillermo Vicente to one side and gives him a warning! Mauricio Ferrer runs off the knock.
67.12
Peter Tobiassen receives the ball from a throw-in from Angelos Andriopoulos. Peter Tobiassen threads a neat ball through to Alfonso Montella. Alfonso Montella plays the ball forward to Fabio Bonera. Fabio Bonera knocks in a cross ball towards Demetrios Apostolopoulos. Demetrios Apostolopoulos makes a looping header on goal. Magnificent save by Ramiro Johnson!
73.27
Alfonso Montella makes a simple pass to Fabio Bonera. Fabio Bonera shoots from long range. Magnificent save by Ramiro Johnson!
81.28
With great vision, Olivier Cissé plays the ball forward to Guillermo Vicente. Guillermo Vicente plays a scrappy one-two with Olivier Cissé and advances towards the goal... Guillermo Vicente side-steps and rifles a shot at goal. The ball clips the inside of the post and flies into the back of the net!! Goal for Empoli!
87.21
Mauricio Ferrer makes a simple pass to Alfonso Montella. Alfonso Montella flicks a high pass forward. Rui Ribeiro collects the pass. Rui Ribeiro lofts in a cross ball towards Neil Hurst. Neil Hurst beats his man to it with a header. Ramiro Johnson easily picks it out of the air!
90.00
Mauricio Ferrer flicks a high pass forward to Alfonso Montella who brings the ball under control. Alfonso Montella deftly passes the ball to his team mate, Fabio Bonera. Fabio Bonera finds some space and shoots from distance. Fantastic reaction save from Ramiro Johnson!
90.00
The whistle blows full-time!

Match Statistics
Goals
3
1
Shots on Target
3
9
Shots off Target
0
1
Offsides
1
0
Fouls
1
2
Yellow Cards
0
1
Red Cards
0
0

Possession
42.6%
57.4%
Play Area
27.9%
41.2%
30.9%


Man of the Match
The man of the match was awarded to Guillermo Vicente of Empoli

Match Ratings