Novara Calcio 0 : 0 Cagliari - Stalemate at Novara

Posted Sunday, February 05, 2012 by PA

Novara failed to win their first game in 2012 after being held to a goalless draw by Cagliari.

The hosts enjoyed several chances to claim their first triumph since November 26 but could not get past Cagliari goalkeeper Michael Agazzi.

The result at the Silvio Piola stadium has left Novara at the foot of the standings, seven points from safety, while the Sardinians are 11th.

Cagliari went into the game on the back of Wednesday's 4-2 triumph over Roma but were not impressive against a team that won promotion last season.

The home side, meanwhile, were hoping to hand coach Emiliano Mondonico his first win in charge after he lost 2-1 against Chievo on his debut on Thursday.

Novara could have gone ahead on the half-hour mark but Agazzi kept out Santiago Garcia's powerful 30-yard drive.

Before half-time, Giuseppe Mascara got his head behind Simone Pesce's cross, however his effort went just wide of the far post.

Mondonico's men continued to press forward after the restart and Pesce forced Agazzi to fully stretch to clear his powerful strike from the edge of the area.

On the hour, Cagliari had one of their few chances with Mauricio Pinilla's header from Thiago Ribeiro's cross threatening the Novara goal but going just over the bar.

Three minutes later, Marco Rigoni headed Mascara's cross straight into the path of Agazzi, before Novara goalkeeper Samir Ujkani kept out Alessandro Agostini's goalbound attempt from outside the area.

The hosts could have clinched all three points with six minutes to go but Andrea Lisuzzo nodded Filippo Porcari's cross from the right into the waiting hands of Agazzi.