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Cagliari gave themselves a massive boost in this relegation dogfight thanks to Robert Acquafresca's brace, but Livorno are rock bottom.
These were desperate times for two of the bottom three teams in Serie A. The Amaranto had the worst home record in the League and were without a win in six. Despite Cagliari's 3-1 loss at Milan last week, they had picked up eight points from an available 15 approaching this match. The last four editions of this fixture ended in a draw. David Balleri, Giuliano Giannichedda and Paolo Bianco were sidelined.
The deadlock was broken just 90 seconds into the match. A set piece was spread out to Antonio Filippini, whose low cross went past everyone to get a touch at the back post off Fabio Galante.
Martin Bergvold had the chance to make it 2-0 with a powerful strike from a corner, but brought a fine save out of Marco Storari's outstretched foot.
It did not take long for Cagliari to equalise. Andrea Cossu aimed a fierce snapshot from 25 metres that Marco Amelia could only parry into the path of Under-21 international Robert Acquafresca.
Livorno were kicking themselves on 19 minutes after Francesco Tavano blasted over an open goal from six yards from Alessandro Diamanti's cross. It was a golden opportunity for the home side.
Agostini went very close to giving the Sardinians the lead as his long-range effort took a deflection to loop up on to the crossbar with Amelia stranded.
Jeda's through ball sent Acquafresca clear and Amelia rescued his shaky defence with a crucial save.
Storari was at full stretch to fingertip a Diamanti piledriver out from under the crossbar from outside the box.
Cagliari went in front with Acquafresca's second of the game. He chested down the long ball down the right channel and cut in past Galante to place a low finish into the far bottom corner.
The Sardinians' tails were up and they were in control now, as Daniele Conti's header from a corner floated on to the upright.
Galante thought he had equalised with his second goal of the game, but it was disallowed for an offside position as he got his header to a Diamanti free kick.
Acquafresca looked ready to net from an open goal, but his angled drive flicked over the goalkeeper cracked against the upright. Storari flew to palm a Tavano screamer out from the bottom corner of the net.
Acquafresca was a constant danger and dribbled round Antonio Filippini only to have his shot parried by Amelia. Alessandro Matri and Pasquale Foggia both failed to finish off a great move.
Foggia missed a sitter in stoppages when he managed to dribble past the goalkeeper only to fire over an open goal!
Moments later Livorno could have equalised with Tavano's finish deflected out for a corner and Fausto Rossini's header from that set-piece plucked off the line. Tavano turned another good chance off target, but the final opportunity fell to Matri, who hit the woodwork for the fourth time with an angled drive.
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