Cagliari 1 - 2 Atalanta: Atalanta claim first win

Posted Monday, September 15, 2014 by PA

Atalanta fended off a late Cagliari comeback to record their first victory of the season in Sardinia on Sunday afternoon.

Marcelo Estigarribia and Richmond Boakye had given the Bergamaschi a 2-0 lead after 67 minutes played at the Sant'Elia stadium.

But when Andrea Cossu clawed one back for the hosts from the penalty spot with four minutes remaining, it set up a frantic finish, with Cagliari surging forward in search of an equaliser.

The best opportunity fell to substitute Daniele Dessena, who, in the 88th minute, saw his powerful volley from a corner kept out by Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Sportiello.

Atalanta, who had won just twice in their previous 27 visits to Cagliari, held on for victory.

Both teams had gone into the contest on the back of draws in their league openers.

The visitors enjoyed a fine start and went ahead in the fourth minute.

Estigarribia got behind Boukary Drame's cross and struck a right-footed volley from the heart of the area past Cagliari goalkeeper Simone Colombi.

The home side had a goal disallowed for offside in the 13th minute.

They surged forward in search of an equaliser and came close before the interval.

Daniel Avelar's goal-bound effort was blocked by an Atalanta defender.

Diego Farias should have made it 1-1 early in the second half but he had a lame shot easily collected by Sportiello.

In the 65th minute, Atalanta's Giuseppe Biava made a goal-line clearance from Marco Sau's effort with Sportiello already beaten.

Atalanta made no mistake two minutes later when an unmarked Boakye drilled a right-footed shot from 30 yards past Colombi to make it 2-0.

Cagliari reduced the deficit in the 86th minute when Cossu converted from the penalty spot after Nicolo Cherubin had brought down substitute Victor Ibarbo in the box.

Atalanta defended deeply from then on and Sportiello's crucial saves from Ibarbo and Dessena's close-range attempts allowed his team to take home three points.