Match Report
 today's match is sponsored by Red Cross |
Match Report
It's a beautiful clear and sunny day here at Stadio Is Arenas where Cagliari play host to Empoli. A crowd of 20,486 fill this 21,000 capacity stadium.
The pitch is in poor condition.
Cagliari are playing in a 4-3-3 formation while Empoli appear to be shaped for 3-4-3.
Today's match is refereed by Nicola Carlo Lillo.
The pitch is in poor condition.
Cagliari are playing in a 4-3-3 formation while Empoli appear to be shaped for 3-4-3.
Today's match is refereed by Nicola Carlo Lillo.
0.00
0-0The first half starts with Cagliari kicking off!
4.11
0-0Without breaking stride, Sebastiao Valente plays the ball forward to Billy Inglis. Billy Inglis threads the ball through to Martin Naylor. Martin Naylor lofts in a cross ball towards Rui Ribeiro. Rui Ribeiro beats his man to it with a header but it is deflected wide by Geoffroy Visieux.
5.45
0-0Corner kick to Cagliari. Leon Meyer plays it to the near post. Some good footwork from Matthew Gargo provides some space. He shoots at goal. Magnificent save by Ramiro Johnson!
8.31
Wataru Nakata flicks a high pass forward to Bruno Monteiro who brings the ball under control. Bruno Monteiro knocks in a cross ball towards Gabriel Medina. Gabriel Medina finds space and glances the ball goalwards with his head. The keeper is on top of it. Great keeping!
12.30
0-0Geoffroy Visieux comes in with a late challenge on Brendan Matthews. The referee calls over Geoffroy Visieux and shows him a yellow card! Brendan Matthews hobbles a bit, but should be okay.
14.22
0-0Geoffroy Visieux arcs the ball upfield. Jeroen Hesp sees the keeper off his line and tries a speculative shot on goal but it slams into the crowd!
20.53
0-0Wataru Nakata flicks the ball to his team mate, Jeroen Hesp. Jeroen Hesp knocks in a cross ball which is cleared by the defence.
24.09
Brendan Matthews flicks a high ball forward to Neil Hurst who takes it down. Neil Hurst shoots from 20 yards. Ramiro Johnson gathers the ball up comfortably. Excellent keeping!
26.40
Gabriel Medina passes the ball forward to Jeroen Hesp. Jeroen Hesp shoots from outside the area. The ball dips but the keeper is a match for it. Well saved!
27.38
Matthew Gargo hits a low pass to Martin Naylor. Martin Naylor flicks a high pass forward to Billy Inglis who brings the ball under control. Billy Inglis knocks in a cross ball which is cleared easily by the defence.
28.08
Jyri Enckelman plays the ball forward to Neil Hurst. Neil Hurst knocks in a cross ball towards Rui Ribeiro. Rui Ribeiro connects with a diving header. The ball flies towards the top corner but the keeper is able to reach it. Nice save!
32.47
Martin Naylor flicks a high pass forward. Neil Hurst controls it well on his chest. Neil Hurst tries a spectacular long range effort. The ball comes in low, but Ramiro Johnson smothers it!
36.22
Sebastiao Valente flicks a high pass forward. Billy Inglis collects the pass. Billy Inglis threads the ball through to Neil Hurst. Neil Hurst lofts in a cross ball towards Martin Naylor. Martin Naylor makes a convincing header. Fantastic reaction save from Ramiro Johnson!
44.56
1-0Jyri Enckelman knocks the ball forward to Martin Naylor. Martin Naylor knocks the ball to his team mate, Rui Ribeiro. Rui Ribeiro plays a one-two with Martin Naylor and advances towards the goal... Rui Ribeiro looks for support before firing off a hurried shot at goal. The ball clips the underside of the bar and bounces just over the line. The fans cheer wildly!
45.00
The referee whistles the end of the first half!
Both teams emerge for the second half. Cagliari have changed their lineup with Mauricio Ferrer replacing Jyri Enckelman and Alfonso Montella replacing Martin Naylor. Empoli appear unchanged since the first half.
45.00
The whistle blows and Empoli kick off!
48.25
Olivier Cissé threads the ball through to Bruno Monteiro. Bruno Monteiro plays a scrappy one-two with Jeroen Hesp and stumbles forward towards the goal... Bruno Monteiro shoots from just inside the box but it is tipped over by Aquivaldo Ortiz.
49.27
Olivier Cissé takes the corner kick, swinging the ball out wide. Gabriel Medina cuts inside onto his preferred left foot and rushes a shot at goal. The keeper is more than a match for it. Good keeping!
51.46
Olivier Cissé flicks the ball to his team mate, Gabriel Medina. Gabriel Medina lofts in a cross ball towards Jeroen Hesp. Jeroen Hesp knocks the ball goalwards with his head but couldn't keep it down. It goes high into the crowd!
53.22
Mauricio Ferrer passes the ball forward to Alfonso Montella. Alfonso Montella cuts inside the box! Some good footwork from Alfonso Montella provides some space. He shoots at goal. The ball dips but the keeper is more than a match for it. Well saved!
60.15
Muzzy Özalan kicks a strong pass forward to Kaci Sibierski. Kaci Sibierski chips the ball to his team mate, Jeroen Hesp. Jeroen Hesp finds some space and shoots from distance. Magnificent save by Aquivaldo Ortiz!
67.18
Billy Inglis controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Alfonso Montella. Alfonso Montella tries a spectacular long range effort but it's drastically wayward!
69.09
1-0Matthew Gargo knocks the ball forward to Alfonso Montella. Alfonso Montella flicks a high ball forward to Brendan Matthews who takes it down. Brendan Matthews makes a beautiful pass to the feet of Duncan Thomson but he's offside!
71.18
Sebastiao Valente flicks a high pass forward to Billy Inglis who brings the ball under control. Billy Inglis flicks a high pass forward. Duncan Thomson holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. Duncan Thomson plays a quick one-two with Rui Ribeiro and rushes in on goal... Duncan Thomson side-steps and rifles a shot at goal. Solid save from Ramiro Johnson.
73.44
Duncan Thomson sees space and advances. Duncan Thomson whips in a cross ball towards Brendan Matthews. Brendan Matthews makes a convincing header. Ramiro Johnson gathers the ball up comfortably. Good keeping!
79.10
Sebastiao Valente flicks the ball to his team mate, Duncan Thomson. Duncan Thomson knocks in a cross ball which is cleared easily by the defence.
81.39
Giovanni M. Sala flicks a high pass forward. Kaci Sibierski controls it well on his chest. Kaci Sibierski makes a probing pass to Gabriel Medina. Gabriel Medina runs straight at the defence! Some awkward footwork from Gabriel Medina provides some space. He unleashes a blazing shot at goal. Fantastic reaction save from Aquivaldo Ortiz!
90.00
The referee whistles full-time!
Match Statistics
Goals
1
0
Shots on Target
10
6
Shots off Target
1
2
Offsides
2
0
Fouls
0
1
Yellow Cards
0
1
Red Cards
0
0
Possession
59.7%
40.3%
Play Area
27.3%
42.9%
29.9%
Scorers
| Rui Ribeiro 45 |
Man of the Match
| The man of the match was awarded to Ramiro Johnson of Empoli |
Match Ratings
| 1. | Aquivaldo Ortiz (GK) | 8 | |
| 2. | Leon Meyer (DEF) | 6 | |
| 3. | Sebastiao Valente (DEF) | 7 | |
| 4. | Matthew Gargo (DEF) | 6 | |
| 5. | Jyri Enckelman (DEF) | 6 | |
| 6. | Martin Naylor (MID) | 8 | |
| 7. | Billy Inglis (MID) | 7 | |
| 8. | Duncan Thomson (MID) | 7 | |
| 9. | Neil Hurst (ATT) | 6 | |
| 10. | Rui Ribeiro (ATT) |  | 8 |
| 11. | Brendan Matthews (ATT) | 6 | |
| 12. | Francisco Farinos (GK) | 0 | |
| 13. | Mauricio Ferrer (DEF) | 6 | |
| 14. | Alfonso Montella (MID) | 6 | |
| 1. | Ramiro Johnson (GK) | 9 | |
| 2. | Giovanni M. Sala (DEF) | 6 | |
| 3. | Muzzy Özalan (DEF) | 6 | |
| 4. | Geoffroy Visieux (DEF) |  | 5 |
| 5. | Kaci Sibierski (MID) | 6 | |
| 6. | Olivier Cissé (MID) | 6 | |
| 7. | Wataru Nakata (MID) | 6 | |
| 8. | Steve Terry (MID) | 6 | |
| 9. | Gabriel Medina (ATT) | 7 | |
| 10. | Bruno Monteiro (ATT) | 7 | |
| 11. | Jeroen Hesp (ATT) | 6 | |
| 12. | Don Hendry (ATT) | 0 | |
| 13. | Mario Martino (ATT) | 0 | |
| 14. | Michele De Gasperi (ATT) | 0 | |