Torino 1 - 1 Cagliari - Torino extend unbeaten run

Posted Monday, February 16, 2015 by PA

Torino wasted numerous chances against Cagliari to clinch their fifth straight victory but nevertheless extended their unbeaten run to 10 games in a 1-1 draw on Sunday.

The Granata fell behind after Godfred Donsah put visiting Cagliari ahead in the 34th minute but Toro got back on level terms almost immediately through Omar El Kaddouri.

The home side could have taken all three points but were denied by good saves from Cagliari goalkeeper Zeljko Brkic.

Their best opportunity came in the 62nd minute when Brkic made a one-handed save to clear Matteo Darmian's close-range attempt.

The outcome in Turin dropped Toro to ninth place while Cagliari are now 18th, just one place and one point adrift of safety.

Cagliari went into the encounter looking for their first win on the road since October 25.

Marco Benassi was first to test Brkic with a stinging drive from 30 yards in the 13th minute, but the Cagliari keeper was equal to the task.

The visitors carved out their first opportunity on the half-hour mark, when Andrea Cossu found space just outside the area and drilled in a right-footed shot that was kept out by Torino goalkeeper Daniele Padelli.

Cagliari silenced the crowd at Turin's Stadio Olimpico four minutes later when Donsah unleashed a rocket from 25 yards that went into the bottom right corner of goal and out of Padelli's reach.

The visitors' joy was short-lived as seconds later, Toro pulled level.

Brkic could not hold on to Bruno Peres' fierce strike and El Kaddouri pounced on the rebound to equalise.

Toro's leading scorer Fabio Quagliarella squandered a good chance to put them ahead early in the second half when he struck Marco Benassi's cross just wide with only Brkic left to beat.

In the 51st minute, Benassi spotted Peres in the box and his goal-bound attempt was kept out by Brkic.

Toro continued to attack and on the hour mark, Quagliarella headed Benassi's cross just over the bar as another chance went begging for the home side.

After Brkic denied Darmian what looked likely to be Toro's winner, the Cagliari keeper produced another fine save from Peres' right-footed volley to make sure his side earned a valuable point in their battle to avoid the drop.