Catania 0 : 1 Cagliari - Victor leads Cagliari to victory

Victor Ibarbo earned Cagliari their first win in eight games with a spectacular individual goal to beat Catania 1-0 at the Stadio Massimino.

The Colombian forward won all three points for the Sardinians with his fine effort in the 64th minute, as a well-organised Cagliari side got the better of a more attack-minded but ineffective Catania.

As a result, the Sicilians fell to their second straight defeat at home this season, allowing Cagliari to move above them in the Serie A table.

Ibarbo joined Cagliari in the summer from Atletico Nacional of Colombia, with many predicting a bright future for the 21-year-old.

His integration into Italian football has been gradual, but after this performance, it can be safely suggested he has now made a name for himself in Serie A.

He was the provider of Cagliari's only moment of danger, and the best chance of the game at that point, in the 39th minute of the first half when his shot hit the legs of Mariano Andujar and Francesco Lodi covered to prevent the ball from crossing the line.

Apart from that, Catania had controlled proceedings with Sergio Almiron going close in the 12th minute.

The moment which changed the game and put Ibarbo on the Serie A map came in the 64th minute.

He rescued the ball from going behind the goal-line with an unexpected touch which caught out Nicolas Legrottaglie and sent him along the line towards the goal.

He then danced past Nicolas Spolli before cutting back past Andujar and stroking the ball nonchalantly into the empty net.

The goal gave the Colombian an air of confidence and his cross in the 78th minute set up Thiago Ribeiro, who slipped as he was preparing to shoot with only Andujar to beat.

Catania sent men forward in search of an equaliser and almost conceded a second when Michele Canini's cross hit the underside of the crossbar and the far post.

The home side's best chance of the game came in stoppage time from the feet of substitute Maxi Lopez, but Michele Agazzi pushed his volley behind to preserve Cagliari's lead and a precious three points.R