Kilicsoy’s acrobatic finish caps a dominant first half, Palestra runs riot, and Cagliari cruise to a third straight Serie A win as Verona collapse to a heavy defeat.
Cagliari continued their impressive surge up the table with a commanding 4–0 home victory over Hellas Verona, securing a third consecutive Serie A win and delivering a major boost to their survival bid. Pisacane’s side settled the contest before halftime and then finished the job against ten-man Verona after the break.
Cagliari took control from the outset, dictating tempo and pushing Verona back with sustained pressure. The breakthrough arrived on 36 minutes following a slick move down the right: Palestra surged forward, Obert laid the ball back with a clever touch, and Mazzitelli finished with a left-footed strike inside the near post. Perilli got a hand to it, but not enough to keep it out.
Just before the interval, the hosts doubled their lead in spectacular fashion. Esposito delivered a perfectly weighted cross, and Kilicsoy produced a sensational overhead kick that left the goalkeeper helpless. The goal was initially ruled out for offside, but VAR overturned the decision, confirming the strike and effectively plunging Verona into trouble before the break.
Any hopes of a comeback vanished early in the second half. Already booked, Sarr was shown a second yellow after catching Zé Pedro while attempting a shot, reducing Verona to ten men. From there, Cagliari managed the game with confidence, snuffing out any danger and patiently waiting to strike again.
The final minutes brought further reward. Sulemana made it 3–0 with a close-range tap-in, and moments later Idrissi added a fourth with a sharp finish to underline a comprehensive performance. Verona offered little resistance, with Orban isolated up front and unable to make an impact.
The emphatic win keeps Cagliari moving in the right direction, while Verona leave Sardinia facing serious questions after a night to forget.
Match Report: Cagliari 4–0 Verona
Scorers:
36’ Mazzitelli (Cagliari), 45+2’ Kilicsoy (Cagliari), 84’ Sulemana (Cagliari), 90+1’ Idrissi (Cagliari)
Cagliari (3-5-2):
Caprile; Zé Pedro, Mina, Luperto; Palestra (Zappa 87’), Mazzitelli (Sulemana 66’), Adopo, Gaetano, Obert (Idrissi 79’); Esposito (Pavoletti 87’), Kilicsoy (Borrelli 66’).
Head coach: Pisacane.
Hellas Verona (3-5-2):
Perilli; Slotsager, Nelsson, Valentini; Lirola (Mosquera 58’), Harroui (Serdar 57’), Gagliardini (Lovric 29’, Niasse 82’), Bernede (Al Musrati 58’), Frese; Sarr, Orban.
Head coach: Paolo Zanetti.
Referee: Bonacina
Red card: Sarr (Verona) – second yellow
