Cagliari stun Roma to climb out of Italian League drop zone
MILAN: Cagliari moved out of the Serie A relegation zone with a 3-2 win over Europa League semi-finalists AS Roma at the Sardegna Arena on Sunday, stretching their winning run to three games.
Leonardo Semplici’s side moved to 31 points and above Benevento into 17th place on goal difference. There are now three points separating both teams from Fiorentina in 14th.
Teams level on points are ranked by their headto-head record at the end of the season, making Benevento’s clash with Cagliari in two weeks’ time hugely significant, ater Filippo Inzaghi’s side won their last meeting 2-1 in January.
Charalambos Lykogiannis fired the hosts in front ater four minutes, but Carles Perez equalised before the break.
Cagliari pulled away with a swerving Razvan Marin strike and Joao Pedro header. Roma’s Federico Fazio pulled one back with a header but the capital club failed to complete a comeback.
Pedro’s goal made him the first Brazilian to score at least 15 times in two consecutive Serie A seasons since AC Milan great Kaka between 2007 and 2009.
Roma, who visit Manchester United in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final on Thursday, risk losing seventh place ater picking up one point from their last three league games.
Paulo Fonseca’s side are three points ahead of Sassuolo, who have won four consecutive matches, with five games to go.
Ex-man United defender Chris Smalling’s return from a knee injury was the only positive note for Paulo Fonseca’s side whose European ambitions next season have been dented.
“Smalling played a very good game, the team is a lot more secure with him and it was important to let him play at least for a while so as to have him for Manchester,” said Fonseca.
“Today it was important that he played at least 45 minutes - and in the end he played 59.
“That’s positive heading into the game in Manchester.”
Roma’s Champions League ambitions are effectively over as they are 11 points behind Juventus who occupy fourth place, with five games to play.
They are also three points behind city rivals Lazio, who occupy the final Europa League berth, and have played two games fewer.
Cagliari boosted their hopes of Serie A survival with a third straight win to move out of the relegation zone.
Now in 17th position, they are equal on points with Torino just ahead and Benevento below them.