Cagliari-Salernitana 4-2: Shomurodov brace, goals from Lapadula and Gaetano

Two huge leaps, two high jumps. Cagliari beats Salernitana (4-2) and takes a giant step towards salvation. In two days he put all the teams that will fight not to be relegated behind him for at least one day, reaching 26. “We will rise again” is the motto of Claudio Ranieri, who seemed very close to the abyss after the home defeat against Lazio. A hint of resignation, loudly rejected by the locker room. And here is yet another resurrection: eight points in four games. And this time the hero of the day is called Eldor Shomurodov, he had been stuck in the box for a long time due to a broken metatarsal. But in the first half the curse of the Cagliari attackers hit Gianluca Gaetano, the man who had scored the goal ( his third) of 2-0. And here comes the Uzbek sent to Sardinia by Rome. Extraordinary double with the complicity of Fazioe Ochoa who effectively sends Salernitana and former Fabio Liverani to Serie B. With 14 points and only 10 games to play the task now appears truly desperate. Yet the Granata after 13 minutes of the second half, thanks to two sleeps by the rossoblù, having reopened a match that they have always tried to play but with a lot of confusion.

LET’S PLAY The splendid morning sun has given way, as expected, to clouds. The Unipo Domus is full, we need to push Cagliari towards the feat. Ranieri decides to play it with the 11 who made the coup in Empoli after Luvumbo’s exit due to injury. It means that there is Zappa at full back, in the middle with Makoumbou in the center and the usual inexhaustible Deiola. The rossoblù coach opts for a 4-2-3-1 which highlights Nandez on the right with Gaetano in the center and Jankto on the left behind Lapadula . Gaetano had suffered as a true striker in Empoli. Liverani isn’t booed as we thought and presents the setup we imagined: A 4-3-1-2 with the strikers Tchaouna and Weissman very wide. And he Candreva is free to invent. In fact, the Granata, even with Bradaric who enjoys ample space on the left, try to play the game. But in the 12th minute they concede the Sardinian advantage: Zappa launches Lapadula who passes Ochoa who comes out without a shot and Manolas in a desperate attempt and scores. The assistant Prenna raises the flag, but di Paolo and Abisso from Lissone to the Var point out that the goal is good. The arena explodes, Lapa is unblocked, second goal. Cagliari can double the lead twice, once they waste Jankto, another time Gaetano scores, but he is always offside. Salernitana still tries to play the game but Cagliari closes well in the area, while leaving room for maneuver which infuriates Ranieri. Tchoauna creates the only real danger to Scuffet who responds very well. And in the 40th minute, on an action by Nandez who comes out with the ball at full speed, this time Gaetano doesn’t make a mistake, he makes a run for a soft Zanoli who doesn’t have the support of Coulibaly and scores a great goal. Double advantage.

SECOND HALF But in Cagliari the curse of the attackers continues and so Ranieri is forced to leave Gaetano in the locker room and start again with Shomurodov. While Liverani leaves Manolas out and inserts Pirola in the center of defense. The Uzbek’s impact was better than that of Pirola because in the 6th minute he scored his first official goal with Cagliari. Augello takes advantage of an unfortunate pass from Fazio and serves the 61 who scores after the ball passes under Ochoa. It seems over but it’s not over. Because in 2′ Salernitana reopens the match from 3-0 to 3-2. Cagliari were at fault as they left Kastanos undisturbed in the center of the area following Zanoli’s cross. But the sleep continues because in the 13th minute from Candreva’s corner Maggiore hits Scuffet’s post with Deiola and Lapadula stopped. It’s battle at the Domus. Liverani also throws in Simy for the useless Weissman. Ranieri makes a triple substitution and switches to the standard 4-4-2. Here are Oristanio, Viola and Azzi, outside Lapadula, inexplicably Nandez and Jankto. On the 25th the first yellow card came from Augello, on the 28th from Kastanos who had been warned by a booking. But in the 31st minute there is still a tomorrow for Shomurodov and another bad mistake by Fazio who, on the restart, gives him the ball. Ochoa doesn’t hold back and Shomu does an encore for 4-2. Happiness. And Ranieri places Wieteska to cover with 5-3-2 from the 32nd minute. Little happens also because Oristanio and Shomurodov are very good at recovering and starting again. And at that point the North becomes the protagonist, remembering Gigi Riva and paying homage to Claudio Ranieri.