Monday November 26, 2012 Day 14 Finished Stadio Is Arenas
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Serie A - Hamsik puts Napoli second
A Marek Hamsik goal saw Napoli shrug off the absence of Edinson Cavani to win 1-0 at Cagliari and go second in Serie A. More
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Live Commentary
Time:90'- Cagliari
- Napoli
- - It all calms down, the players shake hands but some Cagliari players are remonstrating with the ref. Next up we have Parma v Inter!
90+4 Cagliari are furious as the referee blows just as they win a corner! They surround the ref! Napoli celebrate the win but Cagliari are very angry!- 90+3 Cannavaro slides in with a fierce tackle on Ibarbo and hurts his knee in the process. Just a scare, he's ok, a throw.
- 90+2 Four minutes of injury time being played as Dessena tries a long-range effort that De Sanctis has no problem keeping out.
90+1 Hamsik with a fine through-ball to send Vargas through but a brilliant, brave flying stop at his feet from Agazzi!- 90' Ceppelini to take this one... Short and wide to Avelar, decent ball but De Sanctis claims.
- 89' Free-kick to a frustrated Cagliari on the left. Can they snatch an equaliser? Nainggolan is furiously discussing something with the ref...
88' CAGLIARI SUB: Dessena on for Nene, a more defensive option in midfield.- 87' Hamsik tries a lob from range but well over.
- 85' CONTI PUTS IT JUST WIDE! The corner was not at all managed well by Napoli at the near post and the defender's half-volley fizzed past De Sanctis and wide!
- 84' CAGLIARI SUB: Ceppelini replaces Ribeiro.
- 83' NAPOLI SUB: Insigne is replaced by Dossena.
82' Ibarbo's first act is a shocking touch on the edge of the box and Napoli can clear. Cynical from Rossettini as Vargas broke, and he is booked.- 80' CAGLIARI: SUB: Ibarbo on for Ekdal.
- 79' Thiago Ribeiro somewhat cynically takes Hamsik down. No card it seems.
- 78' Conti is completely faking that injury, Behrami has gone down too. Barely any contact between the pair, shoulder-to-shoulder too, and they're trying to game the ref.
- 77' No, not Conti this time, he gets into the box... Nene to swing it in... The keeper claims, and Conti takes a tumble.
- 76' Cagliari have been dangerous at free-kicks and they have another one on the right... Conti will swing it in...
- 74' Can Cagliari respond? They're piling men forward again...
- 73' Looking at the replay and Hamsik was borderline - but the last touch was of Ekdal anyway, so correct call.
72' GOAL NAPOLI! Against the run of play, Hamsik finishes past Agazzi after just staying onside - not sure it would have mattered as Vargas holding it up did not seem to get the last touch.- 70' Vargas has made an immediate impact, suddenly things have swung Napoli's way as they launch another attack.
- 69' Best spell of Napoli pressure in some time as Agazzi is forced to claw a corner off the line before a flying Vargas puts over!!
- 68' NAPOLI SUB: Edu Vargas on for Dzemaili.
- 67' A rare move forward for Napoli as Inler puts a low shot well wide.
- 66' Fantastic low cross from Nainggolan but Cannavaro hacks it clear. Still Cagliari as Avelar spins a cross-shot in but it bounces beyond Sau and wide.
- 65' Sau is sent scuttling through the middle by Avelar but a poor first touch sends him wide and winning a corner was the best he could do.
- 64' The free-kick takes a big deflection off the wall but no problems for Di Sanctis.
- 63' Behrami goes in late on Conti, who makes the most of it, as he is so inclined. No card, free-kick around 28 yards from goal, central...
- 62' Maggio is struggling with an injury... He may come off.
- 61' Further up the pitch a comedy moment for Nene, who kicks air then pulls the shirt of Britos before falling over.
- 60' Zuniga thinks he was fouled by Conti but the ref waves play on.
- 59' Finally it's out for a Napoli goal kick. The visitors have offered nothing so far this half.
- 58' Conti swings it in for Nene but he heads well wide, out for a throw in the end. Ah no, came off a Napoli defender.
- 57' Ekdal is taken down by Inler, who needs to watch it. Free-kick Cagliari centre-right, 35 yards out...
- 56' Corner then to Cagliari but the ball spins wide and it's a goal kick.
- 55' JUST WIDE BY NAINGGOLAN! He feels it took a deflection off Britos and the ref agrees. Volley from a super Ekdal cross!
- 54' Conti swings the free-kick in but cleared by Insigne as Ribeiro was set to shoot.
- 53' Inler takes out Ekdal. A brief lull after what has been a frantic start to the second half.
- 51' Nainggolan shows the other side to his game as he clears from Insigne after a Napoli attack.
- 50' Napoli come forward now but without Cavani their attack is a touch blunted.
- 49' OFF THE BAR FOR CAGLIARI! Great low cross from Conti aimed for Nene, and Cannavaro sliding in clears but it loops over De Sanctis and off the bar. Almost an own goal.
- 48' The throw picks out Nainggolan just inside the box and, from an angle, he turns his marker and fires a low drive that the keeper stops and holds on to. Nice effort, Di Sanctis well placed though.
- 47' Cagliari start on the front foot as Avelar wins a throw on the left.
46' The second half is underway!- 45+1 That's the break, goalless at Cagliari and a pretty even match!
- 45' Nene's corner is claimed by De Sanctis, but a terrible kick out straight to Avelar who tries the lob from 35 yards but it flies just over!
- 44' Wild clearance from Cannavaro flies out for a corner on the left.
- 42' So far Cagliari have had 52.7% possession and lead the efforts on goal count 8-6. I'd say Napoli have had the clearer-cut chances though.
- 41' Hamsik and Nene are having a barney about something. That would be a pretty metro fight if there was one.
- 39' Napoli now on the offensive but a poor shot from Zuniga with his left foot, miles off target to jeers from the home fans.
- 38' Napoli manage to get that corner clear but Cagliari swarm forward again. Now Napoli are on the back foot - this match swinging back and forth.
- 37' JUST WIDE FROM CONTI! May have shaved the post too. The defender flew in to meet that corner. I think Gamberini got a touch as it's another corner.
- 36' Sau with a sharp turn on the edge of the box but his drive is deflected high and wide for a corner.
- 35' Ribeiro has a crack from the edge of the box but, while powerful and on taget, it's too close to De Sanctis, who gathers easily.
- 34' The home fans are jeering the ref but he was right to wave away both penalty shouts. Cagliari resorting to cheating this early?
- 33' Sau chucks himself to the floor as Britos appeared to pull out of the challenge and the ref has had enough of their diving so books the Cagliari striker.
- 32' Another effort from Insigne, from range this time, which lands wide. Keeper had that covered.
- 31' INSIGNE INTO THE SIDE NETTING! A fine run but he got the finish all wrong. Another chance for the visitors.
- 30' Terrible finish from Ribeiro after a fine ball by Nanggolan set him free down the right. Should have got it on target but he scuffed it.
- 29' The replay makes it look like a dive, good decision from the ref but he should have booked Conti for that.
- 28' Cannavaro is forced to hammer to touch as the hosts have a throw. And now Conti races into the box and he's taken out by Gamberini but no penalty!
- 27' Napoli playing it around the back now. They have control of possession and are just looking to pick the hosts apart - but Cagliari are decent on the break as they come again...
- 26' Zuniga now on the left but his cross is blocked and Nene completes the clearance.
- 25' Ekdal catches Dzemaili in the middle of the park, another free-kick to Napoli..
- 24' Almost a goal for Insigne again, who probably should have made contact as the free-kick routine caught Cagliari flat-footed. Behrami it was drilling a fine low ball in from the right, it flew between the little man's legs!
- 23' Free-kick to Napoli around 30 yards out, everyone comes up for it...
- 22' That was some effort from the little man, who is only 5'4". Napoli in the ascendance again now.
- 21' INSIGNE HITS THE POST! What an effort from 20 yards out, completely leaving the keeper for dead and hitting the inside of the right-hand post, bouncing off the line and away to safety.
- 19' Zuniga fouls Pisano after chasing the Cagliari defender for a long ball.
- 17' Napoli manage to ride that spell of pressure and get it upfield, with Insigne flashing an ambitious half volley well wide.
- 16' Corner to Cagliari now as Ekdal pulls the strings. No, a throw by the flag, and Napoli clear.
- 15' Great block by Britos as Nene flew in with a half-volley after good work from Ekdal.
- 14' Hamsik on the right plays it in for Insigne, who takes on Ariaudo and tries to flick it around the defender but ends up committing a foul.
- 13' Sau is just caught offside as he was played in down the right. Close.
- 11' Easily cleared by Napoli but the tide has turned a bit as Cagliari get more of the ball.
- 10' Now Behrami handles around 30 yards out and we have another set piece to the hosts.
- 9' Cannavaro tugs the shirt of Thiago Ribeiro just outisde the box but the ref waves play on - corner to Cagliari anyway.
- 8' Down the other end Insigne takes on Pisano, but the Cagliari man shepherds it out for a goal kick.
- 7' De Sanctis gets a touch as a long ball evades Sau's run.
- 6' Dzemaili goes in late on Ariaudo and he is booked. A poor challenge, a swipe really.
- 5' Little Insigne tries to dribble through a wall of blue-and-red after a nice pass inside from Hamsik, but Ariaudo clears.
- 4' Gamberini gets forward but strays half a yard off. Expect plenty of runs from the defender.
- 3' Foul in midfield by Ekdal as Dzemaili got the better of him. Napoli playing the better football early on.
- 2' Agazzi makes the first save of the night as Insigne fires a daisy cutter from range.
1' The first half is underway!
17:57 If you want to get in touch via Twitter with predictions or comments on a Cavani-less Napoli, you can do so @Reda_Eurosport. FOLLOW ON TWITTER!- 17:56 William Hill has Napoli is slight favourites at 17/10 with the hosts 9/5. 2/1 on the draw and they feel this is too close to call.
- 17:55 Argentine striker Joaquin Larrivey hit a hat-trick against Napoli last season but he is out-of-favour, with Marco Sau leading the line. He got two against Inter last time out.
- 17:50 The big news is that Edinson Cavani is out through suspension, meaning Juan Zuniga and Lorenzo Insigne form an inexperienced front-line, with Marek Hamsik in support. Can they do it without the big man?
- 17:45 Hello and welcome to our LIVE coverage of Cagliari v Napoli in Serie A, kicking off at 6pm UK time.
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Summary
- 90+1 Hamsik with a fine through-ball to send Vargas through but a brilliant, brave flying stop at his feet from Agazzi!
- 85' CONTI PUTS IT JUST WIDE! The corner was not at all managed well by Napoli at the near post and the defender's half-volley fizzed past De Sanctis and wide!
- 72' GOAL NAPOLI! Against the run of play, Hamsik finishes past Agazzi after just staying onside - not sure it would have mattered as Vargas holding it up did not seem to get the last touch.
- 69' Best spell of Napoli pressure in some time as Agazzi is forced to claw a corner off the line before a flying Vargas puts over!!
- 55' JUST WIDE BY NAINGGOLAN! He feels it took a deflection off Britos and the ref agrees. Volley from a super Ekdal cross!
- 49' OFF THE BAR FOR CAGLIARI! Great low cross from Conti aimed for Nene, and Cannavaro sliding in clears but it loops over De Sanctis and off the bar. Almost an own goal.
- 48' The throw picks out Nainggolan just inside the box and, from an angle, he turns his marker and fires a low drive that the keeper stops and holds on to. Nice effort, Di Sanctis well placed though.
- 45' Nene's corner is claimed by De Sanctis, but a terrible kick out straight to Avelar who tries the lob from 35 yards but it flies just over!
- 37' JUST WIDE FROM CONTI! May have shaved the post too. The defender flew in to meet that corner. I think Gamberini got a touch as it's another corner.
- 31' INSIGNE INTO THE SIDE NETTING! A fine run but he got the finish all wrong. Another chance for the visitors.
- 28' Cannavaro is forced to hammer to touch as the hosts have a throw. And now Conti races into the box and he's taken out by Gamberini but no penalty!
- 24' Almost a goal for Insigne again, who probably should have made contact as the free-kick routine caught Cagliari flat-footed. Behrami it was drilling a fine low ball in from the right, it flew between the little man's legs!
- 21' INSIGNE HITS THE POST! What an effort from 20 yards out, completely leaving the keeper for dead and hitting the inside of the right-hand post, bouncing off the line and away to safety.
- 15' Great block by Britos as Nene flew in with a half-volley after good work from Ekdal.
Team Line-up & Ratings
CagliariManager: Ivo Pulga
NapoliManager: Walter Mazzarri
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Line-up
Live Team Line-Up
Starting line-up
- M. Agazzi
- F. Pisano
- L. Rossettini
- L. Ariaudo
- D. Avelar
- D. Conti
- A. Ekdal
- R. Nainggolan
- T. Ribeiro
- M. Sau
- Nenê
Subs
Starting line-up
- M. De Sanctis
- A. Gamberini
- P. Cannavaro
- M. Britos
- B. Dzemaili
- G. Inler
- C. Maggio
- V. Behrami
- M. Hamšík
- J. Zúñiga
- L. Insigne
Subs
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Rate Players
88′ 
