Cagliari 2 : 1 Bari - Cagliari pile misery on Bari

Posted Sunday, January 30, 2011 by PA

Cagliari defeated Serie A's bottom club Bari 2-1 in a game of early goals and missed penalties.

Alessandro Matri scored twice in the first 12 minutes, with Stefano Okaka pulling a goal back for the visitors two minutes later.

Bari were denied an equalising goal four minutes before half-time when Michael Agazzi saved Gergely Rudolf's penalty and follow-up, before Cagliari's Robert Acquafresca wasted a chance from the spot near the end.

The Sardinians started brightly and took the lead in the eighth minute, when good work from Simone Missiroli enabled Matri to beat goalkeeper Jean-Francois Gillet with a shot into the corner.

It was 2-0 four minutes later when Gillet saved Michele Canini's close-range header from a corner - but could not prevent Matri blasting the rebound in.

However, Okaka capitalised on a blunder from Agazzi two minutes later to bring the visitors back into the match.

Okaka was denied with a header from Massimo Donati's cross after half an hour and nine minutes later Agazzi was busy again, keeping out Sergio Almiron's powerful shot.

Bari were awarded a penalty when Canini fouled Simone Bentivoglio but Agazzi kept out Rudolf's spot-kick and the follow-up effort.

Agazzi denied Rudolf two minutes into the second half, then Bentivoglio shot narrowly over from 25 yards.

Gillet saved a rare effort from the home side's Andrea Cossu, before Almiron skimmed the post with a shot from distance at the other end.

Okaka went close twice before Acquafresca headed over - and with two minutes to go the home side had the chance to make it 3-1 after Kamil Glick had fouled Alessandro Matri. However, Gillet kept the penalty out.