|
Cagliari continue their march on safety in this crucial head-to-head with Empoli despite ending the game with nine men.
This was a relegation six-pointer, but the Sardinians had Michele Canini, Andrea Parola and Andrea Cossu suspended. Empoli missed Felice Piccolo, Nicola Pozzi, Daniele Adani and Francesco Pratali. These two teams had drawn just once in their last 12 meetings.
Robert Acquafresca has been crucial in Cagliari's revival this season and opened the scoring with a brilliantly-taken individual goal. He trapped a long ball forward and spun round for the angled drive in the same movement, hitting it on the bounce with power past Balli when surrounded by defenders.
Davide Biondini nodded off target and Luca Saudati's long-range effort was too weak to truly trouble Marco Storari. Just before the break Empoli had a move in which three different shots were charged down in the box, but with Sebastian Giovinco on the bench they had limited creativity.
Under-21 international Giovinco came on for Richard Vanigli after the break, moving Vittorio Tosto to central defence.
Yet Cagliari doubled their lead with a stunning strike from Michele Fini. Acquafresca's header carried on the cross and let it bounce for Fini's screamer into the top corner from 20 metres. Foolishly, Fini was already on a booking and received his second for taking off his shirt to celebrate.
Storari palmed away a Claudio Marchisio strike, but Cagliari went down to nine men after Pisano's scuffle with Saudati earned the defender a second booking.
Giovinco was the only Empoli player who managed to trouble the Sardinians, Storari beating away a fierce snapshot. There was a curious moment in stoppages when substitute Alessandro Matri was recalled for Joaquin Larrivey and the striker was so upset that he burst into tears on the bench.
| 
